Connecting the use of Biofertilizers on Maize silage or Meadows with Progress in Milk Quality and Economy

A systematic use of biofertilizers can improve both the quality of a farming system and the parameters of milk. Some issues related to biofertilization experiments on six farms in the Po Valley (NW Italy) involved in the production of milk from dairy cattle fed maize silage or grazed on hay produced from permanent meadows are reported in this paper. Biofertilized maize was found to lower the live stem pH by about 2.3%, and NIR spectroscopy foreshadowing major changes in the composition. Overall, the plant silage was improved in quantity (+10%) but also in quality, as shown by the delayed maturity stage of the leaves (crop maturity index -4%), the lower indigestible NDF content (-7%), and the higher digestible carbohydrates and protein in the whole plants. Such favorable feeding conditions, together with the improved palatability of the feed ration, boosted the nutrient values of the protein (+4.6%) and fat contents (+5.7%) in the milk. Moreover, the functional properties of the milk were ameliorated, as testified by the higher levels of vitamin A (+27%) and vitamin E (+25%) and the reduced levels of saturated fatty acids (-6%), especially myristic (-18%) and stearic (-32%) acids, while the unsaturated acids increased by 15%. As far as economy aspects are concerned, the biofertilization of maize for silage has led to consistent rewards pertaining to the marginal price of the milk, which in turn has led to a value chain increase of about 9%, because of the fields cultivation, but mainly of the cow transformation in milk quality issues. On another farm, intensive maize was substituted with permanent biofertilized meadows, over a greening path, and a + 17% value chain increase was obtained that already derived mainly from the best price for milk quality parameters. Such an evolutionary leap toward a new vision of sustainable agriculture for the environment and for animals, in which a better quality of products, animal welfare and company budget are combined with soil biofertilization, can be considered a bonanza.

Designing Statically Determinable Mechanisms of Technological Mechatronic Machines with Parallel Kinematics

The work is devoted to improving the reliability and manufacturability of mechatronic machine designs with parallel kinematics by replacing statically indeterminable manipulators with statically determinable mechanisms. A technique is proposed in which the design of statically determinable manipulators of technological mechatronic machines with parallel kinematics is performed by modifying the structure of prototypes and includes three steps: identifying and analyzing redundant links, eliminating redundant links, checking the correctness of eliminating redundant links. To determine the number of degrees of freedom of the mechanism, identify redundant links, and verify the solution, the authors use the proposed methodology for structural analysis of parallel structure mechanisms. In structural analysis, a manipulator is represented by a hierarchical structure and is considered as a parallel connection of elementary mechanisms with an open kinematic chain; as a kinematic chain consisting of leading and driven parts; as a set of links and kinematic pairs; as a kinematic connection of the output link and the rack. The article implements the following techniques for eliminating redundant links: mobility increase in kinematic pairs; introduction of unloading links and passive kinematic pairs to the kinematic chain; exclusion of extra links and pairs from the kinematic chain; increase in mobility in some kinematic pairs simultaneously with the exclusion of other kinematic pairs that have become superfluous. The authors developed several variants of structural schemes of self-aligning manipulators based on the Orthoglide mechanism, which retain the basic functional proper ties of the prototype. To increase the number of self-aligning mechanism diagrams, the redistribution of mobilities and links within the connecting kinematic chain and between connecting kinematic chains is used. The proposed methodics allow to determine the number of degrees of freedom of the mechanism, the number and type of redundant links, eliminate redundant links and, on an alternative basis, build structural diagrams of statically determinable mechanisms of technological mechatronic machines with parallel kinematics.

Towards greater supply chain stability

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings Building a regional rather than a global supply chain can help firms guard against the damaging impact of the bullwhip effect and increase the stability of their supply chain. The possibility of better communication, greater flexibility, and ability to respond more quickly are factors that can appease the bullwhip severity. The benefits of a regional supply chain increase further in times of economic certainty, when the risk to global supply chains intensifies. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Evaluation of deep processing of Ethane for petrochemical production from domestic natural gas

It is expected that a certain amount of natural gas from Nam Con Son Pipeline No. 2 (Stage 2) which will be received from various new gas fields (e.g. Thien Ung, Dai Hung, Su Tu Trang, Sao Vang, Dai Nguyet) and from an existing Nam Con Son Pipeline No. 1. Besides the current utilisations (e.g. for power generation and fertilizer production), the use of natural gas for petrochemical production have attracted more attention due to a value chain increase and for petrochemical development. In Vietnam, the fertilizer production from natural gas via methane value chain is only used. However, with an estimated capacity of 7-10 milion cubic meter per day (MMSCD) and the ethane concentration of 7-8%, the separation and processing of ethane (200-300 thousand ton per year) is one of potential solution for increasing the gas processing margin. In this study, therefore, an evaluation of ethane gas processing for petrochemical production was conducted based on various marketing, technical and economic aspects. The result revealed that high density polyethylene (HDPE) shows the best scenarios owing to high economic efficiency, well-known technology, high demand but lack of supply. The finding might provide a valuable strategy for deep processing of domestic gas.

Cytotoxic Triterpenoids from the Stembark of Aglaia argentea (Meliaceae)

Four dammarane-type triterpenoid compounds, dammar-24-en-3a-ol (1), 3-epi-cabraleahydroxy lactone (2), (E)-25-hydroperoxydammar-23-en-3b,20-diol (3), and dammar-24-en-3β,20-diol (4), were isolated from the methanolic extract of the stembark of Aglaia argentea. Compounds 1-4 were isolated for first time from this plant. The structure of isolated compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including one and two-dimensional NMR as well as mass spectrometric analysis. Compounds, 1-4, along with a known synthetic analog, 20-hydroxy-dammar-24-en-3-on (5), were evaluated their cytotoxic activity against P-388 murine leukemia cells in vitro. The IC50 values of compounds, 1-5 were 9.09 ± 0.10, 68.53 ± 0.08, 5.89 ± 0.08, 22.40 ± 0.11, and 11.53 ± 0.08 µg/mL, respectively. Among the dammarane-type triterpenoids, compounds 1, 3, 4 and 5 having opened side chain showed the stronger activity, wheres compound 2 with cyclic side chain showed weak or no activity. In addition, compound 3 showed strongest activity, indicate that hydroperoxy group at side chain increase cytotoxic activity.

PENINGKATAN KINERJA INDUSTRI KECIL DAN MENENGAH MELALUI KONTRAK SUPPLY CHAIN

The contract is designed to manage the relationship between suppliers and retail. This coordination is needed in order to improve the performance of all actors in the supply chain including through savings in total cost. Small and Medium Industries (SMI/IKM), which maximizes to grow and evolve requires a culprit relationship management in order to compete in the marketplace. In this research, the implementation of buy-back contracts on IKMBatik Sidoarjo. The purpose of this study along with the purpose of implementation of the buy-back contracts is maximizing profits and their involved supply chain participants’ profits. This contract is done because IKM Batik Sidoarjo runs the mechanism where the retail is able to resell his or her goods amount at agreed price. The results showed that the implementation of the buy-back contracts for suppliers and retail on IKMBatik Sidoarjo are more profitable than ever before. This contract encourages retailers to buy products from suppliers in larger amounts at lower costs. Expectations of profit supplier, retail and supply chain increase along with the increase in the value of the repurchase.

Does moving up a food chain increase aggregation in parasites?

General laws in ecological parasitology are scarce. Here, we evaluate data on numbers of fish parasites published by over 200 authors to determine whether acquiring parasites via prey is associated with an increase in parasite aggregation. Parasite species were grouped taxonomically to produce 20 or more data points per group as far as possible. Most parasites that remained at one trophic level were less aggregated than those that had passed up a food chain. We use a stochastic model to show that high parasite aggregation in predators can be solely the result of the accumulation of parasites in their prey. The model is further developed to show that a change in the predators feeding behaviour with age may further increase parasite aggregation.