Use of La2O3 with 8YSZ as thermal barrier coating and its effect on thermal cycle behavior,microstructure, mechanical properties and performance of diesel engine operated by hydrogen-algae biodiesel blend

In this present work, the effect of lanthanum oxides (La₂O₃) on the thermal cycle behavior of TBC coatings and mechanical properties such as adhesion strength and microhardness of 8% Yttria Stabilized Zirconia (8YSZ) TBCs were investigated. CoNiCrAlY and aluminium alloy (Al–13%Si) were used as bond coat and substrate materials. 8YSZ and different wt % of La₂O₃ (10, 20, and 30%) top coatings were applied using the atmospheric plasma spray (APS) method. The thermal cycling test for TBC coated samples were conducted at 800 °C in the electric furnace. The XRD pattern shows that the La₂O₃ doped 8YSZ material transformed to cubic pyrochloric structured La₂Zr₂O₇ during thermal cycling. Further, the Taguchi-based grey relation analysis (GRA) method was applied to optimize the TBC coating parameters to achieve better mechanical properties such as adhesion strength and microhardness. And the optimized La₂O₃/8YSZ TBC coating was coated on CRDI engine combustion chamber components. The engine was tested with microalgae biodiesel and hydrogen, and the results were promising for the TBC-coated engine. The engine performance increased while using La₂O₃/8YSZ coated components, and the emissions from engine exhaust gas such as CO, HC, and smoke reduced considerably. It was found that there was no separation crack and spallation of the coating layer in the microstructure. Ultimately, the microstructural analysis of the optimized TBC coated piston sample after 50 h of running in the diesel engine confirmed that the developed coating had a superior thermal insulation effect and longer life.     

Cheese ripening in nonconventional conditions: A multiparameter study applied to Protected Geographical Indication Canestrato di Moliterno cheese

A multiparameter study was performed to evaluate the effect of fondaco, a traditional ripening cellar without any artificial temperature and relative humidity control, on the chemical, microbiological, and sensory characteristics of Protected Geographical Indication Canestrato di Moliterno cheese. Ripening in such a nonconventional environment was associated with lower counts of lactococci, lactobacilli, and total viable bacteria, and higher presence of enterococci, in comparison with ripening in a controlled maturation room. Moreover, fondaco cheese underwent accelerated maturation, as demonstrated by faster casein degradation, greater accumulation of free AA, and higher formation of volatile organic compounds. Secondary proteolysis, as assessed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry of free AA and low molecular weight peptides, did not show any qualitative difference among cheeses, but fondaco samples evidenced an advanced level of peptidolysis. On the other hand, significant qualitative differences were observed in the free fatty acid profiles and in the sensory characteristics. Principal component analysis showed a clear separation of the fondaco and control cheeses, indicating that ripening in the natural room conferred unique sensory features to the product.     

Western Canadian dairy farmers' perspectives on the provision of outdoor access for dairy cows and on the perceptions of other stakeholders

The provision of pasture and outdoor access for dairy cattle differs around the globe. For example, in Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia, dairy farms are largely pasture based, whereas dairy farms in the United States and Canada are largely confinement based. There is a high level of public support for pasture and outdoor access for dairy cows, and the available evidence shows that dairy cattle are highly motivated to access pasture, especially at night. The decision as to whether to provide outdoor access is typically made by farmers, but little is known about dairy farmers' perspectives on this topic. We investigated perspectives of Western Canadian dairy farmers on outdoor access, as well as how they believe different stakeholders (i.e., the dairy industry, the dairy cows, and the general public) regard outdoor access for dairy cows. Data were collected via (1) 11 focus group discussions with a total of 50 Western Canadian dairy farmers, and (2) semi-structured individual interviews with an additional 6 dairy farmers of Hutterite colonies. Data were analyzed using template analysis. Although most participants in this study did not provide outdoor access on their farms, or only provided outdoor access to certain cow groups, participants generally mentioned that they enjoyed seeing cows on pasture or outdoors. However, participants shared that the Canadian supply management system (including processors) required a consistent flow of production, which was thought to be easier and more economically realized with indoor housing of lactating cows. Participants believed that pasture or outdoor access for dairy cows was desired by the public. Some participants believed that dairy cows prefer to spend time outside under favorable weather conditions, but others felt that cows preferred to stay indoors in modern, ventilated freestall barns. The results of this study describe the perspectives of dairy farmers regarding the views of dairy industry stakeholders as they relate to outdoor access, helping to inform conversations around the provision of outdoor access for dairy cattle.     

Direct high-purity hydrogen production from ammonia by using a membrane reactor combining V-10mol%Fe hydrogen permeable alloy membrane with Ru/Cs2O/Pr6O11 ammonia decomposition catalyst

The hydrogen production capabilities of the membrane reactor combining V-10 mol%Fe hydrogen permeable alloy membrane with Ru/Cs₂O/Pr₆O₁₁ ammonia decomposition catalyst are studied. The ammonia conversion is improved by 1.7 times compared to the Ru/Cs₂O/Pr₆O₁₁ catalyst alone by removing the produced hydrogen through the V-10mol%Fe alloy membrane during the ammonia decomposition. 79% of the hydrogen atoms contained in the ammonia gas are extracted directly as high-purity hydrogen gas. Both the Ru/Cs₂O/Pr₆O₁₁ catalyst and the V-10 mol% Fe alloy membrane are highly durable, and the initial performance of the hydrogen separation rate lasts for more than 3000 h. The produced hydrogen gas conforms to ISO 14687–2:2019 Grade D for fuel cell vehicles because the ammonia and nitrogen concentrations are less than 0.1 ppm and 100 ppm, respectively.     

Changes in polyphenol fractions and bacterial composition after in vitrofermentation of apple peel polyphenol by gut microbiota

The changes in polyphenol fractions after in vitro fermentation of apple peel polyphenol (APP) by gut microbiota as well as the effects of APP on the growth, pH value, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production and intestinal flora composition of gut microbiota fermentation were firstly explored in this study. The relative abundance of Lactobacillus in the APP group was 49.55% with an increment of 49.40% compared with the blank group, while that of Bifidobacterium was 13.32%. Moreover, the flora produced 37.093 ± 0.478 mM of SCFAs including acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid and valeric acid during the process of fermentation, thus reduced the environmental pH value. In addition, polyphenol fractions in APP were altered by gut microbiota fermentation to some extent, for example, glycosides were hydrolysed to aglycones. These findings suggested APP as a potential prebiotic agent to alleviate the disorder of intestinal flora.     

南美白对虾肝胰腺蛋白提取方法优化及无水保活环境胁迫对细胞凋亡蛋白的影响

为提高Western Blotting结果的可靠性，以蛋白溶出率和凝胶电泳蛋白条带完整性为指标，比较提取液种类、研磨方式、酶抑制剂种类及其体积分数和提取时间对南美白对虾肝胰腺蛋白提取效果的影响。采用优化后的提取方法获得高质量蛋白样品，并采用Western Blotting法分析无水环境胁迫后南美白对虾肝胰腺组织中细胞凋亡信号通路相关蛋白的表达水平。结果表明：RIPA裂解液作为提取溶剂所得的蛋白溶出率高于水提和磷酸盐缓冲液，电动匀浆和液氮研磨所得蛋白条带更完整，4%蛋白酶磷酸酶混合抑制剂能有效抑制肝胰腺内源酶引起的蛋白降解；采用Western Blotting法分析无水保活期间南美白对虾肝胰腺蛋白，发现低温诱导休眠的同时会引起细胞轻微凋亡，且凋亡水平呈应激时间依赖性增加，环境胁迫解除后有所回调。     

Winter diets of round whitefish Prosopium cylindraceum in the St. Marys River

The round whitefish (Prosopium cylindraceum) is a coregonine native to numerous northern temperate lentic and lotic systems across North America. The St. Marys River, located between the United States and Canadian border, is one such system where the round whitefish supports a recreational fishery and is a prey source for piscivores. Round whitefish are generally known to prey upon benthic macroinvertebrates, but diets of round whitefish in the St. Marys River have not been characterized. We analyzed stomach contents from 107 round whitefish sampled from the St. Marys River during the winter months of 2020 and 2021 to describe their diets, examine their feeding strategies, and determine if they fed selectively. Ephemeropterans were the most important prey numerically, followed by megalopterans, trichopterans, and dipterans. The round whitefish population sampled from the St. Marys River exhibited a specialized feeding strategy that most often specialized on ephemeropterans. Patterns in the importance of prey types and feeding strategy were consistent between both years sampled. Selective feeding by round whitefish was examined using diet and environmental data from 2021 only, and we found that round whitefish selected both ephemeropterans and megalopterans, but avoided trichopterans and dipterans. Rather than being opportunistic invertivores, our results indicate round whitefish are specialized and selective feeders. Our findings can be used to inform conservation and management of round whitefish, as diets represent an integration of multiple ecological components such as prey availability, predator behavior, and habitat quality.     

Development of a stakeholder identification and analysis method for human factors integration in work system design interventions – Change Agent Infrastructure

In any work system design intervention—for example, a physical workplace re-design, a work process change, or an equipment upgrade—it is often emphasized how important it is to involve stakeholders in the process of analysis and design, to gain their perspectives as input to the development, and ensure their future acceptance of the solution. While the users of an artifact or workplace are most often regarded as being the most important stakeholders in a design intervention, in a work-system context there may be additional influential stakeholders who influence and negotiate the design intervention's outcomes, resource allocation, requirements, and implementation. Literature shows that it is uncommon for empirical ergonomics and human factors (EHF) research to apply and report the use of any structured stakeholder identification method at all, leading to ad-hoc selections of whom to consider important. Conversely, other research fields offer a plethora of stakeholder identification and analysis methods, few of which seem to have been adopted in the EHF context. This article presents the development of a structured method for identification, classification, and qualitative analysis of stakeholders in EHF-related work system design intervention. It describes the method's EHF-related theoretical underpinnings, lessons learned from four use cases, and the incremental development of the method that has resulted in the current method procedure and visualization aids. The method, called Change Agent Infrastructure (abbreviated CHAI), has a mainly macroergonomic purpose, set on increasing the understanding of sociotechnical interactions that create the conditions for work system design intervention, and facilitating participative efforts.