Performance Assessment of Farm Machinery for Persimmon Fruit Cultivation in a Japanese Mountainous Area

Japanese agriculture is facing a decrease in agricultural workers. Mechanization, both to save time and reduce physical input, is essential to solving this issue. Recent worldwide progress in Internet-of-things technology has enabled the application of remote-controlled and unmanned machinery in agriculture. This study was conducted in the Gojo-Yoshino mountainous region in Nara, Japan, which is famous for its persimmon cultivation. The performance of newly introduced smart agricultural machinery was studied in the field by simulating cultivation work. The results showed that the remote-control weeder, speed sprayer, and remote-control mini crawler carrier saved 90%, 75%, and 5% of weeding, spraying, and harvesting times, respectively, when compared with conventional methods. Such time savings led to an 8% decrease in the total working time spent on persimmon cultivation. In addition, using the speed sprayer showed improvement in the fruit’s quality. Results of the power assist suits did not show a time-saving effect but showed a reduction of physical burden. These results suggest that the mechanization of persimmon cultivation is efficient and labor-saving, and satisfies the need for farmers. However, the high investment costs remain an issue in extending mechanization to the region.

Evaluation Algorithm of Ecological Energy-Saving Effect of Green Buildings Based on Gray Correlation Degree

The environmental protection attribute and energy-saving level of green buildings cannot be described by the traditional evaluation model. In order to solve the above problems, a new ecological energy-saving effect evaluation algorithm of green buildings based on gray correlation degree is designed. Based on the framework of building energy-saving index system, the environmental protection evaluation standards are divided and the results are used to screen the energy-saving indexes, so as to complete the establishment of green building ecological energy-saving index system and standards. Then, the evaluation set is established, and the evaluation scale of each layer of indicators is accurately located according to the weight value of each index. On this basis, the membership matrix is constructed. By calculating the index weight and determining the fuzzy synthesis operator, the rating process of the algorithm is improved and the analysis of the evaluation algorithm of environmental protection and energy conservation indicators of green building materials based on gray correlation degree is realized. The experimental results show that the designed algorithm has good stability of the fitting curve, can save energy, and has low cost.

SPECIFIC FEATURES OF DETERMINING THE DESIGN OF OXYGEN TUBE TIPS UNDER NON—STATIONARY CONDITIONS OF CONVERTER MELT WITH PRELIMINARY HEATING OF SCRAP

The results of calculating the parameters of the tips of oxygen lances, taking into account the preheating of scrap metal in the converter due to the combustion of solid fuels in the modern raw material conditions of a metallurgical enterprise of Ukraine, are presented. The substantiation of the design of blowing devices is provided. The results of calculating the geometric parameters and the coefficient of off-design for standard and experimental tips of oxygen lances are presented. Using numerical methods, the value of the diameters and length of the supercritical part of the nozzle was obtained. It is shown that with a decrease in the blast flow rate, it is advisable to decrease the length of the supercritical part of the nozzle, which is fully correlated with the literature data. The change in the coefficient of off-design was determined for the studied range of oxygen consumption (600—1100 m3 / min) for standard and experimental handpieces. It is shown that the value of the coefficient of off-design is in the range of 0.52—0.98 and 1.30—2.30, respectively, for 5– and 6–nozzle standard tips. For experimental tips, this figure is 1.00—1.70. Tuyeres with experimental tips, at the pressure available in the shop, reliably operate in the range of oxygen consumption 650—950 m3 / min and allow increasing the oxygen consumption at the beginning of the blowdown to 1000—1100 m3 / min and more, if necessary. The resulting saving effect from the introduction of the modernized tips is: a decrease in the oxidation of the final slag 1.22—1.70 %; reduction in the specific consumption of lime 0.29—1.81 kg / t; reduction of specific consumption of metal charge 0.26—0.38 kg/t.

Intelligent Calculation Model and Algorithm Optimization of Optimal Operation of Integrated Energy System

This paper analyzes the energy saving effect and optimal operation of the integrated park type energy system. The park type integrated energy system includes photovoltaic power generation system, ground source heat pump system, solar air conditioning system, regenerative electric boiler system and solar hot water system and so on. The energy saving benefit calculation model of each subsystem is established, and according to the operation history data of each subsystem, the calculation results of each subsystem are analyzed. It shows that: The energy saving income of photovoltaic power generation system is 734,200 yuan/year. The main revenue comes from the second and third quarters, during which it should pay attention to the maintenance of photovoltaic modules to ensure the maximum energy saving benefit. The energy saving income of ground source heat pump system in summer is 155,900 yuan/year, and the energy saving effect is not significant. It can cooperate with traditional units for cooling in summer. The heating in winter in the park is provided by ground source heat pump system, regenerative electric boiler system and solar energy air conditioning system. Its energy saving benefit is 3.995 million yuan/year which is the main source of energy saving income in the park, with remarkable energy saving effect.

Energy-saving Scheme of 5G Base Station Based on LSTM Neural Network

As China’s new infrastructure,5G has received national and social attention. 5G promotes economic to grow rapidly. But, the high energy consumption caused by the massive deployment of 5G base stations cannot be ignored. The total annual power consumption is expected to reach 243 billion degrees when the 5G base station is fully built. In the tidal scene, some 5G base station in an idle state still power fully, which causes great power waste. The historical volume of base station business data is used to train LSTM model, and predict the future base station business. When the business is lower than the threshold, the base station will be closed to avoid unnecessary power waste. And the LSTM model prediction results fits the original data ideally. By implementing the power saving strategy, the energy consumption of the base station is reduced by 18.97 %. A single station can save 1174 degrees of electricity yearly. It can be seen that the energy saving effect is remarkable.

Design and Application of Innovative 3DVC in AI Server System

With the accelerated application of cloud computing and artificial intelligence, the computing power and power consumption of chips are greatly enhanced, which brings severe challenges to heat dissipation. Based on this, Baidu has adopted advanced phase change cooling technology and successfully developed an innovative 3dvc air cooling scheme for AI server system. This paper introduces the design, test and verification of the innovative scheme in detail. The results show that the scheme can reduce the GPU temperature by more than 5 °C compared with the traditional heat pipe cooling scheme, save 30%+ of the fan power consumption, and achieve good cooling and energy saving effect.

Study on the Increase of the Supporting Capacity of a Cement Milk Pile with Expansive Additives

In this study, an engineering characteristic test was conducted on cement milk using expansive additives during the construction of bored piles. Expansive additive mixtures with various mixing ratios were prepared according to the construction standards of the Korea Expressway Corporation. Segregation resistance, compressive strength, frictional resistance stress, scanning electron microscope images, porosity, and economic feasibility were analyzed. It was found that segregation effects due to expansive additive incorporation were insignificant, and it was confirmed that all specimens exceeded 0.5 N/mm2, the compressive strength standard of the Korea Expressway Corporation pile bearing capacity. Given a water–binder ratio of 83% mixed with 10% expansive additives, frictional resistance increased up to ~35%, skin friction force was significantly improved, and a cost-saving effect of up to ~33.24% was achieved.

The cost-saving effect of continuity of care (COC): an analysis of institutional COC on diabetic treatment costs using panel 2SLS regressions

Background The high costs of chronic conditions call for new treatment approaches that reduce costs while ensuring desirable health outcomes. There has been a growing transformation of care delivery models from conventional referral systems to integrated care models. This study seeks to evaluate the cost-saving impact of integrated care delivery model under pay-for-performance (P4P) scheme with continuity of care at institution level (ICOC). Methods We analyzed the Taiwan National Health Insurance claim data of 21,725 diabetic patients who visited clinics and/or hospitals at least four times a year for 8 years. Using average local provider P4P participation rate (for each accreditation level) as an instrumental variable in two-stage least squares (2SLS) regressions, we have estimated consistent estimates of the ICOC elasticities for all-cause inpatient and outpatient costs. Results Our results show that ICOC significantly reduced inpatient costs but increased outpatient costs with the elasticity for treatment costs of -11.6 and 1.03, respectively. The decrease in inpatient costs offset the increase in outpatient costs and the resulting total cost saving showed significant association with ICOC. The saving effect of ICOC is especially robust among patients who used clinics as their principal source of care. Conclusions Institutional continuity of care has a substantial impact on the treatment costs of diabetes patients. In the context where inpatient care costs are significantly higher than that of the outpatient care, ICOC would lead to a meaningful cost-saving effect. For new diabetes patients, care by clinics demonstrated the strongest saving effect.

A high temporal/spatial resolution neuro-architecture study of rodent brain by wideband echo planar imaging

Latest simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) methods greatly benefit MR efficiency for recent studies using parallel imaging technique. However, these methods are limited by the requirement of array coils. The proposed Coherent Wideband method, which employs an extended field of view to separate multiple excited slices, can be applied to any existing MRI instrument, even those without array coils. In this study, the Coherent Wideband echo-planar imaging method was implemented on 7 T animal MRI to exhibit comprehensive enhancements in neuro-architecture, including diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and functional MR studies (fMRI). Under the same scan time, the time-saving effect can be manipulated to increase the number of averages for DTI SNR improvement, reducing fractional anisotropy difference by 56.9% (from 0.072 to 0.041) and the deviation angle by 64% (from 25.3° to 16.2°). In summary, Coherent Wideband Echo Planar Imaging (EPI) will provide faster, higher resolution, thinner slice, or higher SNR imaging for precision neuro-architecture studies.

Top Photoselective Netting in Combination with Reduced Fertigation Results in Multi-Annual Yield Increase in Valencia Oranges (Citrus sinensis)

Fruit tree production is challenged by climate change, which is characterized by heat waves, warmer winters, increased storms, and recurrent droughts. The technology of top netting may provide a partial solution, as it alleviates climatic effects by microclimate manipulation. The tree physiological performance is improved under the nets, with an increased productivity and quality. The application of photoselective nets, which also alter the light spectrum, may result in additional horticultural improvements. We present the results of a 5-year experimental study on Valencia oranges, examining three nets: red, pearl, and transparent. Each net was tested at three fertigation conditions: a field standard (100%, I100) and two reduced fertigation regimes, which were 80% (I80) and 60% (I60) of the standard. The average multi-annual yield under the red and pearl nets with I100 and I80 and transparent net with I100 was significantly higher than that of the control trees. While the multi-annual yield increase under the red net I80 was due to the increase in the fruit number, in other treatments, the effect was mostly due to induction in the individual fruit weight. The data presented here show that an increased productivity of orange trees grown under photoselective nets, particularly the red net, with its specific spectral properties, was achieved with a considerable water-saving effect.