Effects of Feeding Varying Levels of DL-Methionine on Live Performance and Yield of Broiler Chickens

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of dietary supplemental DL-methionine (MET) on live performance and meat yield for broilers raised to a common weight. A total of 1552 one-day old Ross 708, sexed broilers were randomly distributed to 32 pens resulting in eight treatments (TRT) of four replicates with 44 male or 53 female/pen. A randomized complete block with a 2 × 4 (sex × 4 MET levels 0, 0.5, 1, and 2 g/kg) factorial arrangement of TRT was used. A common weight of 2400 g was approached by day 46 (1 and 2 g MET/kg feed) and day 48 (0 and 0.5 g MET/kg feed). Supplementation of MET at 1, and 2 g/kg had a lower (p < 0.01) feed conversion ratio (FCR) at day 46/48 than broilers fed 0.5 g MET/kg. Broilers without supplemental MET had the worst (p < 0.01) feed conversion and average daily gain (ADG) at day 46/48. Birds fed 0 g MET/kg of feed had lower (p < 0.05) whole eviscerated carcass without giblets (WOG), yield than birds fed 2 g MET/kg of feed. Additionally, birds fed 0 g MET/kg of feed had lower (p < 0.05) breast fillet and tender percent yields than birds fed supplemental MET. Elimination of MET from organic broiler diets resulted in reduced ADG, breast fillet yield and feed efficiency of meat yield of broilers raised to day 46/48. Reduction in MET supplementation below current levels reduced the efficiency of meat production of organic broilers raised to day 46/48.

Multivariate design and analysis of aircraft HEX under multiple working conditions within flight envelope

This paper presents a multi-condition design method for the aircraft heat exchanger (HEX), marking with light weight, compactness and wide range of working conditions. The quasi-traversal genetic algorithm (QT-GA) method is introduced to obtain the optimal values of five structural parameters including the height, the tube diameter, the tube pitch, and the tube rows. The QT-GA method solves the deficiency of the conventional GA in the convergence, and gives a clear correlation between design variables and outputs. Pressure drops, heat transfer and the weight of the HEX are combined in a single objective function of GA in the HEX design, thus the optimal structure of the HEX suitable for all the working conditions can be directly obtained. After optimization, the weight of the HEX is reduced to 2.250 kg, more than 20% lower than a common weight of around 3 kg. Based on the optimal structure, the off-design performance of the HEX is further analyzed. Results show that the extreme working conditions for the heat transfer and the pressure drops are not consistent. It proves the advance of the multi-condition design method over traditional single-condition design method. In general, the proposed QT-GA design method is an efficient way to solve the multi-condition problems related to the aircraft HEX or other energy systems.

Assessing the Role of the Green Finance Index in Environmental Pollution Reduction

A substantial amount of green finance is required for the transition to green energy, in order to control global warming. We used a common weight DEA composite indicator to develop a green finance index to measure the combined effects of energy, environment, and financial variables. The resulting green finance index values range from 0.98 to 0.71. According to results, Iceland and Nepal both have a score of 1.00, while Australia is third with 0.98 and Malta the lowest value of 0.71. The UK has a score of 0.23 and India has a score of 0.15. The findings of this study offer an understanding of the role of green finance in environmental pollution reduction. We suggest several policy implications or solutions for governments, institutions, industries and the public to work towards environmental pollution reduction.A substantial amount of green finance is required for the transition to green energy, in order to control global warming. We used a common weight DEA composite indicator to develop a green finance index to measure the combined effects of energy, environment, and financial variables. The resulting green finance index values range from 0.98 to 0.71. According to results, Iceland and Nepal both have a score of 1.00, while Australia is third with 0.98 and Malta the lowest value of 0.71. The UK has a score of 0.23 and India has a score of 0.15. The findings of this study offer an understanding of the role of green finance in environmental pollution reduction. We suggest several policy implications or solutions for governments, institutions, industries and the public to work towards environmental pollution reduction.

Examining the Spatial Variability of Geosite Assessment and Its Relevance in Geosite Management

Assessment is the initial step for experts on geoheritage and geotourism when designating geosites in a certain area. During this process, geologically interesting outcrops, formations and places are examined with the use of different criteria to see if they are suitable for geoconservation and geotourism purposes. A quantitative assessment method—Modified Geosite Assessment Model (M-GAM)—was applied in the study area, which is part of the Bakony–Balaton UNESCO Global Geopark in Hungary. M-GAM uses a weight factor (importance) that expresses the opinion of geotourists about 27 infrastructural, tourism and scientific indicators. This factor was examined by questionnaires at nine geosites in the area. At each site, we determined a unique importance value, which shows significant difference from site-to-site and reflects the opinions of visitors about the geosite. The M-GAM method is originally aimed at applying a common weight on each of the 27 criteria during the assessment of selected sites. While this approach is valid, we demonstrated that the method can be extended because the weights spatially vary and can be used to draw conclusions on geosite management. Practically, the evaluation of the factors obtained in this way offers an individual development plan for every site. The current state of improvement direction, the level of communication and the interpretability of the geo-objects can also be determined. In this way, we can get a more realistic development strategy for the geosites.