First Step towards the Upscaling of the Production of Washing Fines - Hemp Composite. Study of Multiphysical Properties

This study investigates the feasibility of scaling-up to industrial scale the production of washing fines – hemp composite. In previous studies (Mazhoud, 2017), (Mazhoud et al., 2017), such composites were developed with a high control of formulation. The washing mud were fully dried, and then milled. The washing fine – hemp composites were prepared from stabilized washing fine and hemp. This study aims to reduce the mud conditioning process in order to save energy and time. In a first time, the methodology for the conditioning of washing mud is detailed. Composite are then prepared considering unstabilized matrix and stabilized matrix with three stabilizer to fine mass ratios (5, 10 and 20 %). The apparent density increases with stabilizer to fine mass ratios according a degree two polynomial law. The mechanical compressive strength increases linearly with apparent density and the performance allows the studied composites to be used as wall formulation regarding the French national rules for hemp concrete. The thermal conductivity values range from 0.107 to 0.123 W/(m.K) at (23°C; 50%RH) reached from production point, this corresponds to a mass water content about 6%. Like for mechanical compressive strength, the thermal conductivity is mainly induced by apparent density. These thermal conductivity values make studied composite suitable for use as distributed insulation or thermal corrector. On hygric point of view, the Moisture Buffer Values classify all formulations as excellent hygric regulators. Finally, this paper shows the feasibility of scaling-up and that multi-physical properties of produced composites make them suitable for use in building envelop. The HSC-10 formulation seems to be the most promising regarding MBV results and considering that it would be possible to reduce thermal conductivity by acting on implementation in order to reduce apparent density.

An implicit discretization-based adaptive reaching law for discrete-time sliding mode control systems

In conventional reaching law approaches, the disturbance suppression is achieved at the cost of high-frequency chattering or increasing the complexity of algorithm such as adding a high-order disturbance compensator. This paper presents the design and analysis of a novel implicit discretization-based adaptive reaching law for discrete-time sliding mode control systems. First, the implicit Euler technique is introduced into the design of discrete reaching laws, and it is proved to be able to eliminate numerical chattering completely. By using a self-adaptive power term, the newly designed reaching law can obtain an arbitrarily small boundary layer of sliding surface, and at the different phases of sliding mode motion, the adaptive power parameter can automatically regulate its value to guarantee globally fast convergence without destroying the accuracy of sliding variable. Then, based on a predefined trajectory of sliding variable, the discrete-time sliding mode control law is developed to realize high control accuracy without additional design. Compared with previous methods, the main contribution of proposed reaching law lies in that it can acquire high-precision sliding mode motion and simultaneously eliminate numerical chattering in spite of complex uncertainties only by adjusting the adaptive power parameter. Finally, a simulation example on the piezomotor-driven linear stage is provided to verify the theoretical results.

Environment-Friendly Control of Cucumber Downy Mildew Using Chlorine Dioxide

Pseudoperonospora cubensis (downy mildew) is highly virulent to various Cucurbitaceae crops, including cucumber (Cucumis sativus). We tested chlorine dioxide application in a plastic greenhouse for environmentfriendly control of downy mildew disease. Spraying diluted chlorine dioxide suppressed downy mildew disease with 41.2% control efficacy. Thermal fogging with chlorine dioxide had a high control efficacy of 80.9%, confirming that this approach is useful for environment-friendly downy mildew control. Using thermal fogging to control diseases that are greatly affected by humidity, such as downy mildew, may be more effective compared with conventional dilution spray control methods.

Effect of Aviation Spray Adjuvant on Improving Control of Fusarium Head Blight and Reducing Mycotoxin Contamination in Wheat

Fusarium head blight (FHB) and its mycotoxin contamination are among the main factors affecting wheat yield and quality. There is an urgent need to develop an efficient strategy to prevent and control the FHB disease and reduce the mycotoxin level in the wheat product. As a triazolinthione fungicide, prothioconazole is an effective broad-spectrum fungicide to control various diseases of wheat by foliar spraying. However, prothioconazole has potential harm to the female reproductive system, and its metabolism prothioconazole-desthio has teratogenicity. Considering this point, the plant protection unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are undoubtedly a suitable choice for the field application of prothioconazole. In this work, by spraying 30% prothioconazole dispersible oil suspensions, we report that aviation spray adjuvant of methylated vegetable oil influences the control effect of wheat head blight, wheat yield, prothioconazole residues, and mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) content. Adding 1.0% aviation spray adjuvant to the spray solution can significantly increase the droplet density and deposition amount in different layers of wheat canopy. The wheat yield increased by 6.94% compared with the treatment areas without spray adjuvant. Meanwhile, the prothioconazole and DON mycotoxin were not detected in the wheat grains. Based on these results, we conclude that the addition of aviation spray adjuvant can also not only ensure the high control effect of prothioconazole on FHB in wheat and increase wheat yield, but also greatly reduce the content of DON mycotoxin and ensure the safety of wheat production. This study is expected to provide theoretical guidance and data support for applying spray adjuvants in the field of plant protection UAVs in modern intensive sustainable agriculture.

Preliminary evaluation of the control effect of two predatory mite species on Eotetranychus sexmaculatus in rubber trees in Hainan Province, China

In this study, we aimed to clarify the effect of predatory mites on controlling the rubber tree pest mite Eotetranychus sexmaculatus (Riley) and explored basic application of the biocontrol technology “using predatory mites to control pest mites” to rubber trees. We selected two commercial species with high predation capacity from five species of predatory mites for further field-release tests. The results showed that among the five predatory mite species, Phytoseiulus persimilis (Athias‐Henriot) and Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) showed the highest and lowest daily average predation amounts on E. sexmaculatus, respectively, and that the commercial predatory mites Amblyseius swirskii (Athias‐Henriot) and Neoseiulus barkeri (Hughes) were demonstrated relatively high predation capacities on E. sexmaculatus and represent the ideal species for field release. Additionally, we found that field release by a hanging release sachet was suitable for a low field-population density of pest mites, and that predatory mites could be released at a dose of one sachet per tree and/or every other row or every other tree according to the actual situation of the pest mites. If the field population of E. sexmaculatus is at the peak egg-laying period, the release of A. swirskii should be top priority, which will lead to high control efficiency within 2 to 3 weeks. In case of low field-population density of E. sexmaculatus or a rainy season, top priority should be given to the release of N. barkeri, which might lead to high control efficiency within 3 to 4 weeks. The results showed that the release of A. swirskii had a more fast-acting effect with a higher control efficiency than N. barkeri at the early stage of release, whereas N. barkeri exhibited a better release effect with greater persistence than A. swirskii at the late stage of release.

Multi-site comparison of factors influencing progress of African insecticide testing facilities towards an international Quality Management System certification

Background Insecticidal mosquito vector control products are vital components of malaria control programmes. Test facilities are key in assessing the effectiveness of vector control products against local mosquito populations, in environments where they will be used. Data from these test facilities must be of a high quality to be accepted by regulatory authorities, including the WHO Prequalification Team for vector control products. In 2013–4, seven insecticide testing facilities across sub-Saharan Africa, with technical and financial support from Innovative Vector Control Consortium (IVCC), began development and implementation of quality management system compliant with the principles of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) to improve data quality and reliability. Methods and principle findings We conducted semi-structured interviews, emails, and video-call interviews with individuals at five test facilities engaged in the IVCC-supported programme and working towards or having achieved GLP. We used framework analysis to identify and describe factors affeting progress towards GLP. We found that eight factors were instrumental in progress, and that test facilities had varying levels of control over these factors. They had high control over the training programme, project planning, and senior leadership support; medium control over infrastructure development, staff structure, and procurement; and low control over funding the availability and accessibility of relevant expertise. Collaboration with IVCC and other partners was key to overcoming the challenges associated with low and medium control factors. Conclusion For partnership and consortia models of research capacity strengthening, test facilities can use their own internal resources to address identified high-control factors. Project plans should allow additional time for interaction with external agencies to address medium-control factors, and partners with access to expertise and funding should concentrate their efforts on supporting institutions to address low-control factors. In practice, this includes planning for financial sustainability at the outset, and acting to strengthen national and regional training capacity.

Flexible and Modular Brain Network Dynamics Characterize Flow Experiences During Media Use: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Flow is thought to occur when both task difficulty and individual ability are high. Flow experiences are highly rewarding and are associated with well-being. Importantly, media use can be a source of flow. Communication scholars have a long history of theoretical inquiry into how flow biases media selection, how different media content results in flow, and how flow influences media processing and effects. However, the neurobiological basis of flow during media use is not well understood, limiting our explanatory capacity to specify how media contribute to flow or well-being. Here, we show that flow is associated with a flexible and modular brain-network topology, which may offer an explanation for why flow is simultaneously perceived as high-control and effortless, even when the task difficulty is high. Our study tests core predictions derived from synchronization theory, and our results provide qualified support for the theory while also suggesting important theoretical updates.

Research And Analysis of Nonlinear Identification Adaptive Control of Fitness Using MATLAB Numerical Simulation

Aiming at the problems of non-linearity in physical exercise, difficulty in predictive model identification control, and difficulty in exercise in control target. A nonlinear identification adaptive control algorithm based on physical exercise is proposed, and a nonlinear identification adaptive control system based on physical exercise is established and simulated with MATLAB. Simulation results show that the recognition ability of physical exercise is strong, which improves the requirements of physical exercise quality, and has the advantages of simple control algorithm, high control accuracy and strong anti-interference ability.

Frequency tracking and tuning control of wireless power transfer system

A tuning control method with frequency tracking function is proposed to improve the degradation of efficiency caused by coil detuning in magnetically-coupled resonant wireless power transfer. Firstly, the detuning mechanism is studied by combining the AC impedance characteristics of the series resonant circuit, and the feedback control circuit is constructed by using a modified phase-locked loop, which outputs a variable frequency PWM wave to regulate the operating frequency of the high frequency inverter and maintains the phase difference between the inverter output voltage and the original side current within the error range. The Matlab/Simulink simulation results show that the design can successfully transfer the system to a new resonant state with short regulation period and high control accuracy, which can effectively improve the transmission efficiency and load power of the system.

Together or alone on the prosocial path amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: the partitioning effect in experiential consumption

PurposeDuring these unprecedented times, acts of charity are deemed essential to help individuals in need and support the social safety net. Given the importance of prosocial behavior for survival through the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, the authors investigate the effects of partitioning experiential consumption and self-construal on consumer responses.Design/methodology/approachBased on the literature on partitioning and self-construal, the findings across three experimental studies provide novel insights into the interplay between partitioning and self-construal, and offer psychological processes on prosocial and behavioral intention.FindingsIndividuals with predominantly independent (vs. interdependent) self-construals and those primed with independent (vs. interdependent) self-construals showed higher prosocial intention when the experiential product ad was in an aggregated (vs. partitioned) format. The fit between the type of format and self-construal leads to the high control coping mechanism, and ultimately prosocial intention.Originality/valuePartitioning experiential consumption has not been directly examined using self-construal, providing novel insights into consumer reactions during the pandemic. This paper provides practical implications to practitioners and researchers to better understand and adapt to shifting digital consumption patterns.