scholarly journals Productivity and quality performance of an innovative firewood processor

2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raffaele Cavalli ◽  
Stefano Grigolato ◽  
Andrea Sgarbossa
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Test ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Main Product ◽  
Wood Chips ◽  
Technical Solution ◽  
Laser Device ◽  
Quality Performance ◽  
One Step ◽  
Set Up

The growing interest about wood as fuel regards not only wood chips and pellets but also firewood, especially in mountain and rural areas where domestic heating plants are widely used. Due to the increased demand for firewood, harvesting activities have extended on broadleaved high forests as well as coppice. As a consequence, the diameter of logs has increased requiring larger and larger splitting machines; nowadays it is not uncommon to find on the market splitters able to process logs with diameter up to 50-60 cm. In order to increase the productivity, the effort of machine producers is directed to obtain the complete splitting of the log into firewood in only one step using multiple ways splitting knives. This technical solution may cause some drawbacks especially when the splitting knives are not properly adapted to the log diameter; it happens that the size of firewood is not homogeneous and splinters are produced, which requires using screens to separate them from the main product. In order to evaluate the work quality of a firewood processor, equipped with multiple ways splitting knives, an experimental test has been carried out using a machine in which the log diameter is automatically detected through a laser device; according to the log diameter the multiple ways splitting knives (formed by fixed and mobile knives, the latter hydraulically operated) is properly set up to obtain regularly sized firewood. Furthermore the log is automatically centred on the splitting knife set-up. The results of the experimental test showed that the firewood processor is able to produce firewood with homogeneous size and with a low production of splinters, regardless of log diameter.

scholarly journals Assessing clinical quality performance and staffing capacity differences between urban and rural Health Resources and Services Administration-funded health centers in the United States: A cross sectional study

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e0242844
Author(s):  
Nadereh Pourat ◽  
Xiao Chen ◽  
Connie Lu ◽  
Weihao Zhou ◽  
Hank Hoang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Quality Measures ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Centers ◽  
Quality Performance ◽  
Clinical Quality

Background In the United States, there are nearly 1,400 Health Resources and Services Administration-funded health centers (HCs) serving low-income and underserved populations and more than 600 of these HCs are located in rural areas. Disparities in quality of medical care in urban vs. rural areas exist but data on such differences between urban and rural HCs is limited in the literature. We examined whether urban and rural HCs differed in their performance on clinical quality measures before and after controlling for patient, organizational, and contextual characteristics. Methods and findings We used the 2017 Uniform Data System to examine performance on clinical quality measures between urban and rural HCs (n = 1,373). We used generalized linear regression models with the logit link function and binomial distribution, controlling for confounding factors. After adjusting for potential confounders, we found on par performance between urban and rural HCs in all but one clinical quality measure. Rural HCs had lower rates of linking patients newly diagnosed with HIV to care (74% [95% CI: 69%, 80%] vs. 83% [95% CI: 80%, 86%]). We identified control variables that systematically accounted for eliminating urban vs. rural differences in performance on clinical quality measures. We also found that both urban and rural HCs had some clinical quality performance measures that were lower than available national benchmarks. Main limitations included potential discrepancy of urban or rural designation across all HC sites within a HC organization. Conclusions Findings highlight HCs’ contributions in addressing rural disparities in quality of care and identify opportunities for improvement. Performance in both rural and urban HCs may be improved by supporting programs that increase the availability of providers, training, and provision of technical resources.

Performance of Screening Biomass Feedstocks Using Star and Deck Screen Machines

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heesung Woo ◽  
Han-Sup Han
Keyword(s):  
Size Distribution ◽  
Biomass Conversion ◽  
Size Class ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Wood Chips ◽  
Biomass Feedstocks ◽  
Key Characteristics ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Ground Material

Abstract. The most commonly traded forms of biomass energy feedstock are chipped (wood chips) and ground (hog fuel) materials. Of these two feedstocks, particle size distribution is one of the key characteristics that affect efficient feedstock handling and biomass conversion. This paper compares productivity and effectiveness of star screener and deck screeners in separating chipped and ground material. Both machines were set up to separate feedstock into three different size categories: unders (<10 mm), accepts (10-51 mm), and overs (>51 mm). Results from the study indicated that the star screener (62.61 and 50.95 tons/h) was more productive than the deck screener (26.80 and 15.63 tons/h) when separating wood chips and hog fuel. Also, there was additional cost to apply screening systems to distribute the size of the materials; $3.53/ton and $6.05/ton for deck screen with wood chips and hog fuel and $1.61/ton and $1.98/ton for star screen with wood chips and hog fuel. For size distribution of screened materials, the 13-mm size materials had the highest portion of the accept size class, and the 25-mm size materials were primarily found in the oversize class, and pan size materials (e.g., sawdust) had the highest portion of the under size class. The feedstock materials screened using star and deck screening machines still had size variations exceeding over or under sizes in the under, accept, and over size classes. To improve the quality of screened materials, definitions of the size (under, accept, and over) should to be further refined. Keywords: Biomass feedstock, Deck screen, Hog fuel, Size distribution, Star screen, Wood chips.

scholarly journals 78 Evaluation of extended hair sheep ram semen stored as liquid at 5°C

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 74-75
Author(s):  
Robert W Godfrey ◽  
Sabrina Keiper ◽  
Sue Lakos
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Egg Yolk ◽  
Final Concentration ◽  
Hair Sheep ◽  
Uht Milk ◽  
Cooling Method ◽  
Counting Chamber ◽  
One Step ◽  
Set Up

Abstract This study was designed to evaluate the quality of extended hair sheep ram semen stored as a liquid at 5°C. St Croix White (STX; n = 6) and Dorper x STX (DRPX, n = 5) rams were collected weekly for 3 wk using estrus ewes fitted with an intravaginal collection vial. Semen was kept at 32°C during transport to the lab and during processing. Semen was evaluated for percent motility (MOT), viability (LIVE) using eosin-nigrosin stain and concentration using a hemocytometer counting chamber. Semen was extended to a final concentration of 250 x 106/mL in a one-step dilution with a skim UHT milk extender with 10% egg yolk by volume and packaged into 0.5 mL straws. Straws were stored in a styrofoam box in a refrigerator at 5°C for 96 h, or in an Equitainer® set up using the manufacturer’s instructions, for 24 h at which time they were transferred to the styrofoam box in the refrigerator for 72 h. Semen was evaluated for MOT and LIVE at -1, 0, 24, 48 72 and 96 h relative to cooling. Semen traits were analyzed using GLM of SAS for repeated measures with ram, time, breed and cooling method in the model. There was no difference (P > 0.10) in MOT or LIVE over time between breeds or cooling method. One STX ram did not produce any samples that survived extension; one STX and four DRPX rams produced at least one sample that did not survive extension and all were removed from analysis. The MOT decreased (P < 0.0001) from 81.7 ± 2.9 % at -1 h to 52.2 ± 2.9% at 96 h. The LIVE decreased (P < 0.0001) from 83.1 ± 3.6% at -1 h to 50.4 ± 3.6% at 96 h. These results show that ram semen stored as a liquid at 5°C can maintain motility and viability for 96 h. Further studies will be conducted to evaluate cooling of extended ram semen and fertility after artificial insemination.

The Relationship between the Development of Human Capital and the Agricultural Economy in Rural Areas

2020 ◽  
pp. 61-65
Author(s):  
B.A. Voronin ◽  
◽  
I.P. Chupina ◽  
Ya.V. Voronina ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Standard View ◽  
Household Factors ◽  
Economic Transformations ◽  
The Relationship

The article discusses a non-standard view of the formation of human capital for work in organizations of the agricultural sector of the economy, in the context of modern socio-economic transformations. In the classical sense, human capital for agriculture should be formed and developed in rural areas. But in real life, this is not always the case, because there are many factors that prevent the classical solution of this problem. First, the demographic factor affects, second, social and household factors, and third, in many rural areas there are no working agricultural organizations where qualified agricultural specialists can work. All these and other circumstances actualize the problem of the quality of human capital in rural areas in relation to the development of agricultural production.

STUDY OF INACCURACY IN THE OPERATION OF THE MAIN CONTROLLER OF STB MACHINE

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Normal Distribution ◽  
Stable Process ◽  
Random Errors ◽  
Actual Length ◽  
Experimental Data Processing ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Main Regulator ◽  
Transmission Gear ◽  
Selection Of

At production of fabrics, including fabrics for agricultural purpose, an important role is played by the cor-rect adjustment of operation of machine main regulator. The quality of setup of machine main controller is determined by the proper selection of rotation angle of warp beam weaving per one filling thread. In the pro-cess of using the regulator as a result of mistakes in adjustment, wear of transmission gear and backlashes in connections of details there are random changes in threads length. The purpose of the article is the research of property of random errors of basis giving by STB machine regulator. Mistakes can be both negative, and positive. In case of emergence only negative or only positive mistakes operation of the machine becomes im-possible as there will be a consecutive accumulation of mistakes. As a result of experimental data processing for stable process of weaving and the invariable diameter of basis threads winding of threads it is revealed that the random error of giving is set up as linear function of the accidental length having normal distribution. Measurements of accidental deviations in giving of a basis by the main regulator allowed to construct a curve of normal distribution of its actual length for one pass of weft thread. The presented curve of distribution of random errors in giving of a basis is the displaced curve of normal distribution of the accidental sizes. Also we define the density of probability of normal distribution of basis giving errors connected with a margin er-ror operation of the main regulator knowing of which allows to plan ways of their decrease that is important for improvement of quality of the produced fabrics.

The Rotterdam Initiative in Reducing Waste Discharges at Source

1991 ◽  
Vol 24 (10) ◽  
pp. 171-177
Author(s):  
T. Vellinga ◽  
J. P. J. Nijssen
Keyword(s):  
Public Relations ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Detailed Balance ◽  
River Rhine ◽  
The North ◽  
Complementary Role ◽  
Action Programme ◽  
The North Sea ◽  
Set Up

Much of the material dredged from the port of Rotterdam is contaminated to such a degree that it must be placed in specially constructed sites. The aim of Rotterdam is to ensure that the dredged material will once again be clean. This will entail the thorough cleansing of the sources of the contamination of the sediment in the harbours and in the River Rhine. The Rotterdam Rhine Research Project (RRP) is one of the means to achieve this based on: technical research, legal research, public relations and dialogues with dischargers. The programme for five selected heavy metals is almost complete. For many heavy metal discharge points between Rotterdam and Rheinfelden, a specially devised independent load assessment has been carried out four times. Balance studies were used to determine the relative contributions of the point discharges to the total. Currently the results are being used in an attempt to negotiate agreements with a selected number of the major dischargers. At present, more detailed balance studies are being set up and exploratory measurements carried out for organic micropollutants. It may be concluded that the research is progressing successfully and methods and techniques developed seem satisfactory and broadly applicable. The Rhine Action Programme encompasses an international effort to improve the quality of the Rhine water. Although the RRP plays a modest complementary role to the Rhine Action Plan, there is no doubt of the value of this Rotterdam initiative. The mode of work followed in the RRP contains elements that can be of use in combatting the contamination of the North Sea by rivers other than the Rhine.

What Advantages Can Be Expected from the Acceptance of Variable Quality Standards for Sewage Treatment Effluents?

1988 ◽  
Vol 20 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 249-251
Author(s):  
Jacques Bernard
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Quality Standards ◽  
Quality Level ◽  
Environment Protection ◽  
Economical Benefit ◽  
Quality Objective ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Variable Quality

The flow and the water quality of the rivers vary throughout the year. Very frequently the environment protection authorities set up a quality objective for the river water and this mini mum quality level is constant. So, it wou1d seem possible to accept variable quality standards for plant effluents. A first approach of the problem,by a small French task group,based on three actual cases leads to the provisory conclusion that such a regulation is suitable and presents economical benefit only in some very limit ed cases.

QUALITY OF LIFE IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS OF FIVE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES: SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES

2004 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
HEIDRUN MOLLENKOPF ◽  
ROMAN KASPAR ◽  
FIORELLA MARCELLINI ◽  
ISTO RUOPPILA ◽  
ZSUZSA SZÉMAN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Urban And Rural Areas
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