Computational Study on Three-Dimensional Convective Casson Nanofluid Flow past a Stretching Sheet with Arrhenius Activation Energy and Exponential Heat Source Effects

The effective applications of Casson fluid in drilling processes, biological treatments, food processing, and bio-engineering activities have caught the interest of a wide range of researchers. The suitable knowledge of heat transfer via non-Newtonian fluid is essential for the achievement of best quality products in industry. Thus, the three-dimensional Casson nanofluid flow over a stretching sheet with Arrhenius activation energy and exponential heat source effects is investigated in this paper using a computational process based on iterative power series (IPS) method. To provide useful insights into the physical and dynamic examinations of this topic, convective heat and convective mass boundary conditions are used. The developed model of nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) has been transformed into ordinary differential equations (ODEs) using similarity transformations. The numerical solution of the transformed ODEs is obtained by employing the IPS technique combined with shooting iteration approach. The results of this study are validated with the previous studies, and excellent agreements have been obtained. The behavior of various capable physical parameters is analyzed. It is observed that the thermal and concentration fields show an enhancement with respect to the exponential heat source parameter and thermal and concentration Biot numbers. Further, the Arrhenius activation energy parameter has shown a significant effect on the concentration field.

Applicability of On-Site P-Wave Earthquake Early Warning to Seismic Data Observed During the 2011 Off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku Earthquake, Japan

In this study, the on-site P-wave earthquake early warning (EEW) based on the site-specific spectral ratio of S-wave to P-wave to efficiently incorporate the site characteristics, which can potentially issue the earthquake warning by the time of Ts-p, was developed. The spectral ratio of S-wave to P-wave that are related to the source effects, the path effects, and the site effects are significantly affected by the site effects contrast to the source effects and the path effects in practical. At first, the on-site P-wave EEW method which multiplies a site-specific spectral ratio of S-wave to P-wave prepared in advance by P-wave observed in the real-time at seismic stations is applied to seismic data for moderate-sized earthquakes with a magnitude (Mj) of 5.0–6.0, occurred in the eastern Japan, observed at both the sedimentary basin site and the rock site. As a result, this method predicted well the observed S-wave in the single indicator of SI within the logarithmic standard deviation of 0.25 as well as in the frequency of more than 0.5 Hz. It is, also, confirmed that the site-specific spectral ratio of S-wave to P-wave at a seismic station was stably retrieved from 20 data samples at least. To investigate the applicability of this method to earthquake ground motions induced by a large-scaled earthquake, finally, this method is applied to seismic data during the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku earthquake, Japan (Mw 9.0). The prediction of S-wave using a time-window of 10 s after P-wave arrived, could not reproduce the observation with the underestimation; however, the prediction of S-wave using a time-window of more than 20 s containing P-wave propagated from an area generating strong motions in the fault, could reproduce the observation. Even in the case of the large-scaled earthquake, the on-site P-wave EEW method based on the site-specific spectral ratio of S-wave to P-wave at a seismic station availably works by using the gradually increasing time-windows after P-wave arrived in the single indicator of SI as well as in the frequency content, avoiding the mixture of S-wave into a part of P-wave.

Seed Source Effects on Germination, Growth, and Yield of Carrots Under Natural Farming

Natural farming is a type of low-input sustainable agricultural system that is characterized by the avoidance of the use of any animal materials. Production of self-produced seeds by farmers is recommended under natural farming environments, with an expectation of improved crop growth and yield. However, there have been no scientific studies that investigated the performance of self-produced seeds under natural farming. This study investigated the germination rate, growth, and yield of carrots (Daucus carota L.) from different seed sources under natural farming. The main experimental factor was the cultivation method: CT – control; CF – conventional farming; NF1 – natural farming with tillage and compost input; and NF2 – natural farming without tillage and compost, and the subfactor was the seed source: OPN – open-pollinated seeds self-produced under natural farming; OPC – open-pollinated seeds produced under conventional farming; and HB – hybrid seeds. The germination rate of OPN seeds was higher than that of other seeds. In addition, root fresh weight and other root parameters of OPN were as high as for HB seeds. This suggests that using self-produced seeds by farmers improves crop performance in a natural farming system.

Effect of Total Starch and Resistant Starch in Commercial Extruded Dog Foods on Gastric Emptying in Siberian Huskies

Gastric emptying rate (GER) may impact diabetes and obesity in humans and could provide a method to reduce canine weight gain. Starch, the most common source of carbohydrates (CHOs) in pet food, is classified as rapidly or slowly digestible, or resistant to digestion. This study investigated starch source effects in commercial extruded dog foods on the GER of 11 healthy adult Siberian Huskies. Test diets were classified as traditional, grain-free, whole-grain, and vegan. Dogs received each diet once, a glucose control twice, and acetaminophen (Ac) as a marker for GER in a randomized, partially replicated, 6 × 6 Latin square design. Pre- and post-prandial blood samples were collected at 16 timepoints from −15 to 480 min. Serum Ac concentrations were assessed via standard spectrophotometric assays and fitted with a mathematical model to estimate parameters of GER. Parameter values were subjected to ANOVA, with period and treatment as fixed effects and dog as a random effect. More total emptying (p = 0.074) occurred at a faster rate (p = 0.028) in dogs fed the grain-free diet, which contained the lowest total starch (34.03 ± 0.23%) and highest resistant starch (0.52 ± 0.007%). This research may benefit future diet formulations to reduce the prevalence of canine weight gain.

Effect of Total Starch and Resistant Starch in Commercial Extruded Dog Foods on Gastric Emptying in Non-Racing Sled Dogs

Gastric emptying rate (GER) may impact diabetes and obesity in humans and could provide a method to reduce canine weight gain. Starch, the most common source of carbohydrates (CHOs) in pet food, is classified as rapidly or slowly digestible, or resistant to digestion. This study investigated starch source effects in commercial extruded dog foods on the GER of 11 healthy adult Siberian Huskies (5.63±0.72 years; mean±SEM). Test diets were classified as traditional, grain-free, whole-grain, and vegan. Dogs received each diet once, a glucose control twice, and acetaminophen (Ac) as a marker for GER in a randomized, partially-replicated, 6x6 Latin square design. Pre- and post-prandial blood samples were collected at 16 timepoints from -15 to 480 minutes. Serum Ac concentrations were assessed via standard spectrophotometric assays and fitted with a mathematical model to estimate parameters of GER. Data was analyzed using a repeated measures ANOVA, followed by a Tukey-Kramer post-hoc test when significant (p<0.05). More total emptying (p= 0.0430) occurred at faster rate (p=0.0668) in dogs fed the grain-free diet, which contained the lowest total starch (34.03 ± 0.23%) and highest resistant starch (0.52 ± 0.007%). This research may benefit future diet formulations to reduce the prevalence of canine weight gain.