Evaluation of the Main Causes of Diesel Engine Injector Failure using Fault Tree Analysis

This paper is based on the application of the root cause analysis principle of diesel engine injector failure in diesels Haditha station. The maintenance of the diesel engine injector contains many problems that lead to the injector stopping; several reasons lead to such Problems. Fault tree analysis (FTA) is one of the most widely used methods in the industrial sector to perform reliability analysis of complex engineering systems. A fault tree is a logical representation of the relationship of primary/basic events that lead to a given undesirable event (i.e., top event). This research aims to present the (FTA) technology and how to use it in analyzing the causes of problems that lead to the injector stop working, and how to calculate the probability of occurrence of such problems. Implementation of FTA based on the probabilities of the causes under the top event and canalization lead to the calculated probability value (0.80). The plant management can define a specific plan to reduce these problems, because failure of an important engine part (injector) with such a large value leads to long downtime hours compared to operating hours.

Salt and Drought Effect on Germination and Initial Growth of Lavandula stoechas: A Potential Candidate for Rehabilitation of the Mediterranean Disturbed Coastal Lands

Information relating to germination and seedling emergence of a plant aids in determining the species spatiotemporal distribution and also facilitates in designing appropriate plant management strategies within an ecosystem. Lavandula stoechas L. (Lamiaceae), a naturally occurring shrub, is particularly used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. This species, indeed, has the potential for rehabilitation of degraded costal lands. However, various aspects of its seed biology have not yet been recognised. Here, we aimed to assess the effects of different soluble salts (NaCl, CaCl2, MgCl2 and Na2SO4) and drought (as simulated by polyethylene glycol, [PEG]6000) on seed germination patterns and early seedling growth responses. Seeds treated with five iso-concentration (0–100 mM) salinities and five PEG6000 (0 to −1 MPa) levels were incubated in a controlled germinator set at 20°C. The preliminary results revealed that seeds of L. stoechas lacked primary/innate dormancy and they germinated abundantly (89.2% germination) and fast (7.4% day−1) in the absence of stress. Regardless of the kind of salt applied, the germination percentage (GP) and germination rate index (GRI) fell significantly with increasing salinity, and germination ceased completely at 100 mM Na2SO4. In fact, the salinity tolerance index (STI) showed that, among all salts tested, Na2SO4 appeared to have more inhibitory action on germination. In addition, L. stoechas was found to be tolerant to moderate salty stress (<50 mM) in early growth phase. The salt solution parameters (i.e. concentration, electrical conductivity [EC] and salt content) were best correlated with seed/seedling metrics. pH was not a good predictor for salt effects at the germination/seedling stages. Overall, this species seems to be sensitive to drought at the germination and initial growth phases. The germination recovery potential of L. stoechas in both stresses stipulates that this species can be regarded as a promising candidate in the rehabilitation of Mediterranean disturbed coastal habitats.

Biodiversity planning for Victoria University of Wellington's Kelburn campus

<p>Urbanisation changes the biotic and abiotic elements of natural environments irrevocably and almost always results in losses of indigenous species and habitats and the creation of new habitats. Humans are attracted to cities for social and economic reasons but put considerable effort into making life in cities more pleasant by creating urban green spaces where they can go, or which they can look at, to re-connect with the natural environment. Historically, large organisations and institutions, including universities, have also created park-like gardens for the benefit of their workers and students. This research concerns the 3.87 ha of garden and wilderness green space areas on the Victoria University of Wellington Kelburn campus (New Zealand). Established on a steep hillside in suburban Wellington in the early 1900s it now lies along the boundary of the Central Business District. Effective management of the grounds has become a priority in order that increasing numbers of students and staff may get more benefit from the services they provide, and the natural capital of both the campus and the city can be enhanced. A management plan incorporating recommendations from this research could guide biodiversity and environmental enhancement of the campus. As well as supporting urban biodiversity, and students and staff, these enhancement actions will strengthen and improve relationships with stakeholders, raising the profile of the university and bring its biodiversity policies in line with local government. For this study I measured tree frequency, density and species diversity on the Kelburn Campus and compared present day tree species richness with historic records for the campus, the Wellington Botanic Garden native forest remnants, and a local bush reserve. I also determined recruitment rates for campus trees. A total of 177 tree and shrub species were identified including plantings of 17 rare indigenous species. The overall diversity score was moderate (Shannon Weiner 3.023), and species richness on the campus had diminished from a high of 146 species in 1990. Without intervention species richness is likely to fall even further given that 81 species are currently represented by four or fewer trees. Recruitment data for weedy non-local species (both introduced and non-local indigenous) showed that there were significant numbers of these species in most size groups from seedling to mature trees. This indicates that greater control of these species is required. In the second part of the study I questioned members of the campus community about how they valued its green space, where they went and why, what they liked about their favourite places, and what they would like to see more or less of in campus green space. The results were, in general, consistent with the literature. Male staff were prepared to travel further than students to get to their favourite places and also showed a preference for exercise over relaxation; females showed slightly more preference than males for warm and sheltered spots, and students preferred relaxation and socialising over exercise as their reason for going to their favourite places. Access and seating were important and a large proportion of respondents wanted more warm sunny places and more birds. Large trees, native plants, flowers and lawns were also popular. These preferences were common to both students and staff. Victoria University expects that the Kelburn campus population could double in size over the next twenty years or so. This will place pressure on campus green space, five percent of which was lost to development in 2015. Through my research I have demonstrated that biodiversity gains could be achieved through effective management of pest plant species and judicious planting. Permanent protection and planned management of campus green space and recognition of it as a capital asset will be important for retaining staff and students, and for improving relationships with neighbours and stakeholders. Specific recommendations include: 1. Research into the food value for birds of Pseudopanax hybrids compared with local Pseudopanax species. 2. Research into the likelihood of local Pseudopanax species being forced into local extinction by hybrid species. 3. Develop a pest plant management plan. 4. Determine which soils in campus green space areas have high biodiversity potential and select plants accordingly. 5. Determine the needs of the multicultural campus community for green space. 6. Promote green space areas to staff and students as destinations and provide explanatory information regarding the natural and other values of particular sites. 7. Enhance natural and infrastructural elements of green spaces with planting, pest control, seating, shelter, and canopy gaps for sunshine. 8. Review access routes for pedestrian comfort, future capacity, connectivity with the surrounding neighbourhood, and accessibility for variously 'abled' people. Give campus roads and pathways names and signage.</p>

Biodiversity planning for Victoria University of Wellington's Kelburn campus

<p>Urbanisation changes the biotic and abiotic elements of natural environments irrevocably and almost always results in losses of indigenous species and habitats and the creation of new habitats. Humans are attracted to cities for social and economic reasons but put considerable effort into making life in cities more pleasant by creating urban green spaces where they can go, or which they can look at, to re-connect with the natural environment. Historically, large organisations and institutions, including universities, have also created park-like gardens for the benefit of their workers and students. This research concerns the 3.87 ha of garden and wilderness green space areas on the Victoria University of Wellington Kelburn campus (New Zealand). Established on a steep hillside in suburban Wellington in the early 1900s it now lies along the boundary of the Central Business District. Effective management of the grounds has become a priority in order that increasing numbers of students and staff may get more benefit from the services they provide, and the natural capital of both the campus and the city can be enhanced. A management plan incorporating recommendations from this research could guide biodiversity and environmental enhancement of the campus. As well as supporting urban biodiversity, and students and staff, these enhancement actions will strengthen and improve relationships with stakeholders, raising the profile of the university and bring its biodiversity policies in line with local government. For this study I measured tree frequency, density and species diversity on the Kelburn Campus and compared present day tree species richness with historic records for the campus, the Wellington Botanic Garden native forest remnants, and a local bush reserve. I also determined recruitment rates for campus trees. A total of 177 tree and shrub species were identified including plantings of 17 rare indigenous species. The overall diversity score was moderate (Shannon Weiner 3.023), and species richness on the campus had diminished from a high of 146 species in 1990. Without intervention species richness is likely to fall even further given that 81 species are currently represented by four or fewer trees. Recruitment data for weedy non-local species (both introduced and non-local indigenous) showed that there were significant numbers of these species in most size groups from seedling to mature trees. This indicates that greater control of these species is required. In the second part of the study I questioned members of the campus community about how they valued its green space, where they went and why, what they liked about their favourite places, and what they would like to see more or less of in campus green space. The results were, in general, consistent with the literature. Male staff were prepared to travel further than students to get to their favourite places and also showed a preference for exercise over relaxation; females showed slightly more preference than males for warm and sheltered spots, and students preferred relaxation and socialising over exercise as their reason for going to their favourite places. Access and seating were important and a large proportion of respondents wanted more warm sunny places and more birds. Large trees, native plants, flowers and lawns were also popular. These preferences were common to both students and staff. Victoria University expects that the Kelburn campus population could double in size over the next twenty years or so. This will place pressure on campus green space, five percent of which was lost to development in 2015. Through my research I have demonstrated that biodiversity gains could be achieved through effective management of pest plant species and judicious planting. Permanent protection and planned management of campus green space and recognition of it as a capital asset will be important for retaining staff and students, and for improving relationships with neighbours and stakeholders. Specific recommendations include: 1. Research into the food value for birds of Pseudopanax hybrids compared with local Pseudopanax species. 2. Research into the likelihood of local Pseudopanax species being forced into local extinction by hybrid species. 3. Develop a pest plant management plan. 4. Determine which soils in campus green space areas have high biodiversity potential and select plants accordingly. 5. Determine the needs of the multicultural campus community for green space. 6. Promote green space areas to staff and students as destinations and provide explanatory information regarding the natural and other values of particular sites. 7. Enhance natural and infrastructural elements of green spaces with planting, pest control, seating, shelter, and canopy gaps for sunshine. 8. Review access routes for pedestrian comfort, future capacity, connectivity with the surrounding neighbourhood, and accessibility for variously 'abled' people. Give campus roads and pathways names and signage.</p>

Climate Change Impacts on Plant Phenology: Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) Bud Break in Wintertime in Southern Italy

The effects of global warming on plants are not limited to the exacerbation of summer stresses; they could also induce dormancy dysfunctions. In January 2020, a bud break was observed in an old poly-varietal vineyard. Meteorological data elaboration of the 1951–2020 period confirmed the general climatic warming of the area and highlighted the particular high temperatures of the last winter. Phenological records appeared to be significantly correlated to wood hydration and starch reserve consumption, demonstrating a systemic response of the plant to the warm conditions. The eight cultivars, identified by single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) profiles and ampelographic description, grown in this vineyard showed different behaviors. Among them, the neglected Sprino, Baresana, Bianco Palmento, and Uva Gerusalemme, as well as the interspecific hybrid Seyve Villard 12.375, appeared to be the most interesting. Among the adaptation strategies to climate changes, the cultivar selection should be considered a priority, as it reduces the inputs required for the plant management over the entire life cycle of the vineyard. Hot Mediterranean areas, such as Salento, are a battlefront against the climate change impacts, and, thus, they represent a precious source of biodiversity for viticulture.

Community social capital in supporting biomass development at The Purwakarta Forest Management Unit, West Java

Biomass plantations are starting to become an option for developing renewable energy sources. Socio-economic problems related to management regulations, trust, and networks in the biomass energy plantations-developing process need to be resolved. This study aims to determine the capacity of community social capital in supporting the development of biomass plantations. The location of the study was at Purwakarta Forest Management Unit (FMU). Data collection was carried out by observation, household surveys using questionnaires, and Focus Group Discussion. Data were analyzed using a descriptive qualitative method. The results show that, in general, the community has strong social capital in building biomass plant partnerships, especially in the aspect of trust. Farmer’s trust in those who assist in the management of biomass plants is relatively high, namely Perhutani, the farmer group leader, and the community leaders. The farmers will be motivated to develop biomass crops if successful examples exist. The social norms and sanctions for farmers in the biomass plant management at Purwakarta FMU are very low, but the community is still obedient to the social norms. The networking ability of farmers is relatively low, so intensive assistance in developing biomass farming must be improved, either in technical assistance or intensive extension.

The palm leaves falling periods and characteristics of royal palm (Roystonea regia (Kunth) F.Cook) at IPB Dramaga Campus, Bogor, Indonesia

Royal palm is widely planted as an ornamental plant and becomes part of parks and open landscapes in urban areas, especially on the roadside and in an urban forest. The leaves have a large size that can potentially cause harm to people or property under or around the tree. Information regarding the falling period and the weight of palm leaves was necessary in terms of risk mitigation of tree management. The study was conducted on ten royal palm trees by observing the incidence of leaf fall every three days during the period of September 2019 to March 2020. The palm leaves comprise the leaf sheath and the petiole. The results showed that the number of royal palm leaves was about 12 leaves per tree. Royal palm at IPB Dramaga campus has a tree height of about 12 m and a diameter of 40 cm. The period of fall of palm leaves is 30 to 40 days; although it may not fall every period, it can even fall once in 6 months. The average weight of the fallen leaves is about 8.2 kg, with a moisture content of 85.2%. Information on the period and weight of royal palm leaf fall are very important as information on risk mitigation activities in plant management in the urban landscape.

Output Variation of Trigger Pump Sprayers used for Individual Plant Treatments

Individual plant treatment (IPT) techniques (e.g., basal bark, cut stump, hack and squirt) are used for woody invasive plant management and often rely on small trigger pump spray bottles as an economical and efficient way to deliver an herbicide to the target species. Worldwide, plastic suppliers produce many models and designs with a wide range of uses including pesticide application. However, spray bottle performance has rarely been examined in relation to IPT techniques for operational invasive plant management. We tested ten commonly available spray bottles for trigger output and variation over repeated strokes. We also examined sustained trigger sprayer performance over a six-week period for spray bottles containing water or basal oil carriers, blended with amine and ester formulations of triclopyr, respectively. In the first study, we found significant differences in spray output per stroke between almost every bottle tested. Almost all spray bottle brands yielded outputs greater than 1.0 ml per stroke which exceeds the maximum application amount specified for hack and squirt. Several bottles produced an output of greater than 2.5 ml per stroke. In the second study, the output per stroke was reduced for basal oil mixes, with significant reductions measured for two brands by 21 days and for all three brands tested by 42 days after mixing. These results indicate that consumer-grade trigger sprayers are likely to depreciate rapidly with routine operational use without proper hygiene maintenance. Even then it is likely that these application devices may need to be replaced several times annually. Trigger pump spray bottles are an economical and practical solution for remote field operation and volunteer weed control activities. These sprayers are most suitable for spray-to-wet techniques such as basal bark and cut surface treatments but may potentially be less suited for hack and squirt application which often requires sub-ml precision.

Assessment of Environmental and Occupational Risk Factors for the Mitigation and Containment of a COVID-19 Outbreak in a Meat Processing Plant

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, meat processing plants have been vulnerable to outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Transmission of the virus is difficult to control in these settings because of a combination of factors including environmental conditions and the specific nature of the work. This paper describes a retrospective outbreak investigation in a meat processing plant, a description of the measures taken to prevent or contain further outbreaks, and insights on how those with specific knowledge of the working environment of these plants can collaborate with public health authorities to ensure optimal outbreak control. The plant experienced 111 confirmed positive asymptomatic cases in total with an estimated attack rate of 38% during a five-week period. 4 weeks after the first case, mass screening of all workers was conducted by the public health authorities. Thirty-two workers tested positive, of which 16 (50%) worked in one particular area of the plant, the boning hall (n = 60). The research team prepared and carried out semi-structured interviews with the plant personnel who were charged with COVID control within the plant. They carried out assessments of operational risk factors and also undertook air quality monitoring in the boning hall and abattoir. The air quality measurements in the boning hall showed a gradual build-up of carbon dioxide and aerosol particles over the course of a work shift, confirming that this poorly ventilated area of the plant had an environment that was highly favorable for aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Assessment of operational conditions incorporated visual surveys of the plant during the working day. Prior to and during the first 2 weeks of the outbreak, multiple measures were introduced into the plant by management, including physical distancing, provision of educational material to workers, visitor restrictions, and environmental monitoring. After the implementation of these measures and their progressive refinement by plant management, the factory had no further linked cases (clusters) or outbreaks for the following 198 days. The tailored approach to risk mitigation adopted in this meat processing plant shows that generic risk mitigation measures, as recommended by public health authorities, can be successfully adapted and optimized by designated plant emergency response teams.