Article
Construction & Building Technology
B. U. Kelkar, S. R. Shukla, B. N. Paul, S. Arya
Summary: This study flattened Bambusa bambos culms with different steaming durations and further densified them using a hot press. Physical and mechanical properties of the flattened and densified bamboo (FDB) were evaluated and compared with control. Results showed that softening duration had a significant effect on all the properties of FDB. The density of FDB significantly increased, resulting in a more uniform distribution of vascular bundles. With increasing softening duration, mechanical properties such as flexural strength, flexural stiffness, and tensile strength significantly improved. Microstructure and chemical changes due to flattening and densification were examined using analytical techniques such as SEM, FTIR spectroscopy, and XRD. The findings can be practically important for the efficient utilization of bamboo in producing value-added FDB composites.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiaolong Li, Shangwen Ling, Wanqiu Cao, Li Zeng, Ruoxin Yuan, Chuhong Zhang
Summary: This research proposes an innovative 3D printing method enabled by a surface-adaptive capillary strategy, resulting in high-density electrodes and enhanced capacitance. The printed electrodes, formulated with a special ink, undergo in situ nitrogen doping and hierarchical micro-meso porosity during post-carbonization, leading to a double leap in energy density. This method can be applied to manufacture 3D printed energy storage devices.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Allan Motta Couto, Thiago Campos Monteiro, Paulo Fernando Trugilho, Jose Tarcisio Lima, Jose Reinaldo Moreira da Silva, Alfredo Napoli, Diego Pierre de Almeida
Summary: This research assessed the relationship between wood physical-anatomical variables and charcoal physical-mechanical properties. The study found that wood density, fiber length, wall thickness, and wall fraction were positively correlated with charcoal bulk density, hardness, and strength. In contrast, fiber lumen diameter and vessel frequency had a negative correlation with charcoal properties.
JOURNAL OF FORESTRY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Bo-han Xu, Tong-Tong Wang, Kong-Bin Yu, Yan-Hua Zhao, Binsheng Zhang
Summary: The physical and mechanical properties of wood can be improved by the densification process, which involves a pre-treatment to soften the wood cell walls and a post-treatment to improve dimensional stability. This study used a three-step process to fabricate densified wood and compared the effects of different manufacturing parameters on the physical and mechanical properties of poplar wood.
WOOD MATERIAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chiyu Fu, Wenyang Tang, Liangjun Xia, Zhuan Fu, Pei Lyu, Chunhua Zhang, Junyao Gong, Azadeh Nilghaz, Zhigang Xia, Guangming Cai, Weilin Xu
Summary: This article presents a wearable electronic based on carbonized Juncus effusus (CJE) fibers for strain sensing and energy harvesting. The CJE strain sensor demonstrated superior properties such as large tolerable strain, high sensitivity, low detection limit, fast response, and excellent durability. The CJE fibers also showed potential as a material for woven fabrics, enhancing the sensing characteristics and serving as tribo-electric nanogenerators. Overall, the CJE fibers hold promise for the integration of flexible strain sensors and portable power sources in wearable electronics.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Qian Wang, Qiankun Cao, Rui Wang, Peifu Wang, Yanhua Zhao, Shijie Li, Feifei Han
Summary: Biomass, as a carbon neutral fuel, is a potential substitute for fossil fuels, but its large-scale application is limited by low calorific value, low energy density, and high alkali content. Densification, pyrolysis, and adding additives are effective methods to enhance biomass fuels. This study focuses on understanding the emission and transformation mechanisms of nitrogen and sulfur pollutants during the pyrolysis and combustion of biomass with phosphorus-based additives. The results show that the addition of additives promotes the emissions of H2S, COS, and NH3 during pyrolysis, emphasizing the need for their proper treatment. Combustion of densified biochar at 1000 degrees C resulted in accelerated SO2 emissions with increased pyrolysis temperature, while NO emissions remained unaffected. The use of NH4H2PO4 enhanced organic sulfur release, while NH4H2PO4 and Ca(H2PO4)2 slightly reduced NO emissions. The upgraded densified biochars exhibited high calorific value, low melting point, and low pollutant emission.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Sajid Riaz, Ibukun Oluwoye, Yasir M. Al-Abdeli
Summary: This study investigates the effects of partially oxidative atmosphere on the torrefaction of woody biomass, and finds that torrefied biofuel under partially oxidative atmospheres has superior chemical functionality and thermodynamic features. It also suggests that using waste heat and flue gases from other combustion processes for thermal pre-treatment can improve process efficiency.
Article
Forestry
Qiang Wang, Yong Pang, Dongsheng Chen, Xiaojun Liang, Jun Lu
Summary: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of Lidar Biomass Index (LBI) for estimating tree-level aboveground biomass (AGB) from a 3-D perspective, with results showing better explanations for coniferous species than broadleaf species.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Zhao Kai, Imjoo Jung, Sunhee Lee
Summary: The purpose of this study was to develop conductivity 3D printed fingertips and confirm their potential for use in a pressure sensor. Index fingertips were 3D printed using thermoplastic polyurethane filament with three types of infill patterns and densities. The coated 3DP index fingertips were analyzed for appearance property, weight changes, compressive property, and electrical property.
Article
Physics, Condensed Matter
Yu Ji, Weipeng Wang, Yifan Ding, Huaixiang Wang, Junkai Yang, Qinwen Guo, Xubin Ye, Xi Shen, Yuan Yao, Jianfa Zhao, Changqing Jin, Ting-Shan Chan, Zhiwei Hu, Youwen Long, Richeng Yu
Summary: A transition metal oxide NbMoO4 with rutile-type structure was synthesized and characterized. The sample exhibits metallic behavior with low resistivity and paramagnetic properties.
PHYSICA B-CONDENSED MATTER
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Zhengyang Wang, Yuxin Gao, Yang Zhou, Chuangang Fan, Penghui Zhou, Junhui Gong
Summary: Densified wood (DW) and lignin modified wood (MW) were investigated for their thermal decomposition and combustion behaviors. MW and DW showed improved thermal stability and increased char yield. A numerical model was used to simulate the pyrolysis behaviors and the results matched well with the experimental data. Cone calorimetry tests revealed that delignification and densification delayed ignition time and DW formed a compact char layer, slowing down the heat release rate.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMBUSTION INSTITUTE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jingyi Wu, Zhengyu Ju, Xiao Zhang, Kenneth J. Takeuchi, Amy C. Marschilok, Esther S. Takeuchi, Guihua Yu
Summary: The article introduces a novel design of thick electrodes, successfully achieving lower porosity and high gravimetric/volumetric energy densities through a structure connecting highly densified active material regions and continuous electrolyte-buffering voids.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
J. C. Maturana, P. Guindos, J. Lagos, C. Arroyave, F. Echeverria, E. Correa
Summary: A new two-step densification method called hot isostatic pressing (HIP) has been proposed for wooden materials, which can achieve almost complete densification of wood and preserve a higher percentage of the original volume compared to previous methods. The method is based on gas pressure and can potentially densify any shape of wood. The effectiveness of the method has been demonstrated on tropical hardwood species, showing homogenous density patterns, stable densification, and improved mechanical properties.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Ioan Tenu, Cecilia Roman, Lacrimioara Senila, Radu Rosca, Petru Carlescu, Marius Baetu, Vlad Arsenoaia, Emanuel Petru Dumitrachi, Oana-Raluca Corduneanu
Summary: Concerns over pollution reduction have led to increased focus on finding and implementing efficient, handy, and renewable sources. Briquettes made from biomass of annual vine cuttings have been found to meet standard requirements, showing promise for their use as valuable biofuel.
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Huayue Liang, Jingjing Liu, Ji Zou, Jihang Huang, Weimin Wang, Zhengyi Fu
Summary: Reactive sintering technology is used to densify ceramics. In this work, a new solid-state route based on reactions among TiN, Al, and B was proposed to consolidate TiB2-AlN-hBN ceramics with tunable compositions. The effects of hBN and AlN amounts on the properties of ceramics were comprehensively investigated.
JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN CERAMIC SOCIETY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Guoming Li, Yanbo Huang, Zhiqian Chen, Gary D. Chesser, Joseph L. Purswell, John Linhoss, Yang Zhao
Summary: This study systematically reviews the applications of CNN-based computer vision systems in animal farming, covering system development preparations, CNN architectures, algorithm development strategies, and provides recommendations for future research.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
J. L. Purswell, H. A. Olanrewaju, Y. Zhao
Summary: This study showed that feeder space allocation has a significant impact on broiler performance, particularly in early life stages. Providing larger feeder space during the starter and grower phases can improve body weight and weight gain, but the effects diminish as the birds grow older. Further research is needed to determine the optimal feeder space allocation and duration in early life for commercial broilers.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POULTRY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
X. Yang, Y. Zhao, G. M. Street, Y. Huang, S. D. Filip To, J. L. Purswell
Summary: Understanding broiler behaviours through wearable accelerometers and machine learning models can effectively classify specific behaviors, with varying performances of different models. A window length of 1 second yields the best performance for classifying continuous broiler behaviors.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Xuan Dung Nguyen, Yang Zhao, Jeffrey D. Evans, Jun Lin, Joseph L. Purswell
Summary: This study determines the survivability of airborne Escherichia coli (E. coli), settled E. coli, and E. coli in poultry litter under laboratory conditions. The results show that airborne E. coli has a half-life time of 5.7 minutes, while E. coli in poultry litter and settled particles have longer half-life times of 15.9 hours and 9.6 hours, respectively. Understanding the survivability and transmission of airborne E. coli is crucial for poultry production.
Meeting Abstract
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hammed A. Olanrewaju, Stephanie Collier, Klint McCafferty, Christopher Magee, Leonard Fussell, Joseph Purswell
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Guoming Li, Xue Hui, Yang Zhao, Wei Zhai, Joseph L. Purswell, Zach Porter, Sabin Poudel, Linan Jia, Bo Zhang, Gary D. Chesser
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of ground robot manipulation on reducing floor eggs in cage-free housing systems. The results showed that ground robot operation can help reduce floor egg production to some extent in the short term after being introduced, without negatively affecting hen production performance and well-being.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
H. A. Olanrewaju, J. L. Purswell, S. D. Collier, S. L. Branton
Summary: The study investigated the effects of feeder space availability on the welfare of broilers grown to heavy weights using blood physiological variables. Results indicated that expanding feeder allowance does not enhance the welfare of broilers grown to heavy weights, as observed changes were within physiological ranges.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
John E. Linhoss, Jeremiah D. Davis, Jesse C. Campbell, Joseph L. Purswell, Kelly G. Griggs, Carson M. Edge
Summary: This study compared light intensity levels, distribution, and uniformity in curtain-sided broiler houses using two lighting program treatments: natural light only (NL) and traditional light-emitting diode (LED). The results showed that the NL treatment significantly increased light intensities throughout the house compared to the LED treatment, but reduced overall spatial uniformity.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POULTRY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
J. E. Linhoss, J. D. Davis, J. C. Campbell, J. L. Purswell, Kelly G. Griggs, C. M. Edge
Summary: This study compared the effects of different treatment methods derived from the Global Animal Partnership (GAP) lighting standards on light intensity and spatial uniformity. The results showed that using GAP lighting programs significantly increased light intensity, with most of the floor area exceeding the target value set by GAP. Additionally, the lighting environments created by GAP programs were markedly different from traditional programs.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POULTRY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Srinivasagan N. Subhashree, C. Igathinathane, J. Hendrickson, D. Archer, M. Liebig, J. Halvorson, S. Kronberg, D. Toledo, K. Sedivec, D. Peck
Summary: Economic analysis helps in decision-making related to forage production and handling by providing information on growing or buying forage, setting prices, and purchasing equipment. The web-based tool FECWT simplifies the complex and time-consuming process of economic calculations, generating results based on user inputs or default data. The tool calculates net return, break-even ratio, payback period, and return on investment, and has been shown effective through case studies using real-field data.
COMPUTERS AND ELECTRONICS IN AGRICULTURE
(2023)
Review
Agronomy
Srinivasagan N. N. Subhashree, C. Igathinathane, Adnan Akyuz, Md. Borhan, John Hendrickson, David Archer, Mark Liebig, David Toledo, Kevin Sedivec, Scott Kronberg, Jonathan Halvorson
Summary: Farmers and ranchers rely on annual forage production for grassland livestock enterprises. Regression and machine learning models have been developed to understand the seasonal variability in grass and forage production. Decision support tools help farmers compare management practices and develop forecast scenarios. A systematic literature review was performed to synthesize current knowledge, identify research gaps, and inform stakeholders. High-resolution satellites, advanced ML models, and interactive, user-friendly tools should be further studied and applied in this field.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Jeremiah D. Davis, Baylor D. Arnold, Cody R. Smith, Kelly G. Griggs, Martha S. Rueda, Jesse C. Campbell, Carson M. Edge, Joseph L. Purswell
Summary: A field survey was conducted on 23 farms in central and south Alabama to evaluate gas leaks on the high-pressure trunk line. The survey found that total number of fittings was strongly correlated with floor area, but the percentage of leaking fittings did not correlate with house age or floor area. Leaks seemed to be more related to regulator quality and installation craftsmanship. The overall mean leaking fittings across surveyed houses was 6.9% & PLUSMN; 0.6%. It is recommended for poultry producers to verify the absence of leaks in newly constructed houses and to regularly check for leaks.
APPLIED ENGINEERING IN AGRICULTURE
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Matthew R. Rowland, Gary Daniel Chesser Jr, John E. Linhoss, Jeremiah D. Davis, Jesse C. Campbell, Joseph L. Purswell
Summary: Commercial broiler house construction, maintenance, and insurance costs are increasing due to the adoption of advanced housing control equipment. The quality of grounding systems in broiler farms in Mississippi and Alabama is unknown. A survey was conducted on 96 commercial broiler houses to evaluate the electrical grounding systems. Results showed that 64% of the surveyed houses met the recommended ground resistance threshold, with 58% of traditionally grounded houses and 74% of Ufer supplemental grounded houses meeting the threshold. Ufer supplemental grounding is preferred in new construction to improve earth grounding and annual inspections are recommended to prevent damage from overvoltage and lightning.
APPLIED ENGINEERING IN AGRICULTURE
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Guoming Li, Gary Daniel Chesser, Yanbo Huang, Yang Zhao, Joseph L. Purswell
Summary: The study developed a robot for automated collection of floor eggs in cage-free hen housing systems and optimized its performance in recognizing and picking eggs. By using deep learning model YOLO V3 and image processing algorithms, the robot achieved high accuracy in detecting and locating eggs. The use of a gripper with soft grouting sponge attachment proved to be effective in enhancing the success rates of picking white and brown eggs.
TRANSACTIONS OF THE ASABE
(2021)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
John E. Linhoss, Joseph L. Purswell, Jeremiah D. Davis
Summary: This study investigated the efficiency of radiant heaters from different manufacturers in providing a suitable warm environment for brooding chicks, finding that heaters with the same power output do not necessarily produce the same net usable area (NUA). Additionally, chicks were shown to decrease their preference for radiant flux levels during the first week of brooding, resulting in higher NUA at 8 days compared to 1 day.
APPLIED ENGINEERING IN AGRICULTURE
(2021)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Yinping Xiang, Meiying Jia, Rui Xu, Jialu Xu, Lele He, Haihao Peng, Weimin Sun, Dongbo Wang, Weiping Xiong, Zhaohui Yang
Summary: This study investigated the impact of the non-antibiotic pharmaceutical carbamazepine on antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) during anaerobic digestion. The results showed that carbamazepine induced the enrichment of ARGs and increased the abundance of bacteria carrying these genes. It also facilitated microbial aggregation and intercellular communication, leading to an increased frequency of ARGs transmission. Moreover, carbamazepine promoted the acquisition of ARGs by pathogens and elevated their overall abundance.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Review
Agricultural Engineering
Weixin Zhao, Tianyi Hu, Hao Ma, Dan Li, Qingliang Zhao, Junqiu Jiang, Liangliang Wei
Summary: This review summarizes the effects and potential mechanisms of biochar on microbial behavior in AD systems. The addition of biochar has been found to promote microbial colonization, alleviate stress, provide nutrients, and enhance enzyme activity. Future research directions include targeted design of biochar, in-depth study of microbial mechanisms, and improved models.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Review
Agricultural Engineering
Christina Karmann, Anna Magrova, Pavel Jenicek, Jan Bartacek, Vojtech Kouba
Summary: This review assesses nitrogen removal technologies in reject water treatment, highlighting the differences in environmental impacts and economic benefits. Partial nitritation-anammox shows potential for economic benefits and positive environmental outcomes when operated and controlled properly.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Wei-Hao Huang, Ying-Ju Chang, Duu-Jong Lee
Summary: This study modified pinecone biochar with layered double hydroxide (LDH) to enhance its adsorption capacity for heavy metal and phosphate ions. The LDH-biochar showed significantly improved adsorption capacities for Pb2+ and phosphate, and a slight increase for Cu2+ and Co2+. The LDH layer enhanced the adsorption through various mechanisms.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Chao Song, Fanfan Cai, Shuang Yang, Ligong Wang, Guangqing Liu, Chang Chen
Summary: This paper developed a machine learning model to predict the biochemical methane potential during anaerobic digestion. Model analysis identified lignin content, organic loading, and nitrogen content as key attributes for methane production prediction. For feedstocks with high cellulose content, early methane production is lower but can be improved by prolonging digestion time. Moreover, lignin content exceeding a certain value significantly inhibits methane production.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Sang Min Lee, Ju Young Lee, Ji-Sook Hahn, Seung-Ho Baek
Summary: This study successfully developed an efficient platform strain using Yarrowia lipolytica for the bioconversion of renewable resources into adipic acid, achieving a remarkable increase in production level.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Sefkan Kendir, Matthias Franzreb
Summary: This study presents a novel approach using magnetic separation to efficiently harvest freshwater microalgae, Chlorella vulgaris. By combining pH-induced calcium phosphate precipitation with cheap natural magnetite microparticles, harvesting efficiencies up to 98% were achieved in the model medium.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Ishaq Kariim, Ji-Yeon Park, Wajahat Waheed Kazmi, Hulda Swai, In-Gu Lee, Thomas Kivevele
Summary: The impact of reaction temperature, residence time, and ethanol: acetone on the energy compositions and yield enhancement of biocrudes was investigated. The results showed that under appropriate conditions, biocrudes with high energy and low oxygen content can be obtained, indicating a high potential for utilization.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Xiyue Zhang, Xiyao Li, Liang Zhang, Yongzhen Peng
Summary: Intermittent aeration is an innovative approach to enhance nitrogen removal in low carbon-to-nitrogen ratio municipal sewage, providing an efficient strategy for the continuous plug-flow AOA process.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Xu Yang, Mahmoud Mazarji, Mengtong Li, Aohua Li, Ronghua Li, Zengqiang Zhang, Junting Pan
Summary: This study investigated the impact of magnetite on the nitrogen cycle of pig manure biostabilisation. The addition of magnetite increased N2O emissions and decreased NH3 emissions during composting. It also increased the total nitrogen content but should be considered for its significant increase in N2O emissions in engineering practice.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Review
Agricultural Engineering
Ty Shitanaka, Haylee Fujioka, Muzammil Khan, Manpreet Kaur, Zhi-Yan Du, Samir Kumar Khanal
Summary: The market value of microalgae has exponentially increased in the past two decades, thanks to their applications in various industries. However, the supply of high-value microalgal bioproducts is limited due to several factors, and strategies are being explored to overcome these limitations and improve microalgae production, thus increasing the availability of algal-derived bioproducts in the market.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Martin Kerner, Thorsten Wolff, Torsten Brinkmann
Summary: The efficiency of using enriched CO2 from flue gas for large-scale production of green microalgae has been studied. The results show that the use of membrane devices and static mixers can effectively improve the CO2 recovery rate and maintain the suitable pH and temperature during cultivation, achieving a more economical and sustainable microalgae production.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Rui Ma, Ji Li, Rd Tyagi, Xiaolei Zhang
Summary: This review summarizes the microorganisms capable of using CO2 and CH4 to produce PHAs, illustrating the production process, factors influencing it, and discussing optimization techniques. It identifies the challenges and future prospects for developing economically viable PHAs production using GHGs as a carbon source.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Bing Wang, Peng Zhang, Xu Guo, Xu Bao, Junjie Tian, Guomin Li, Jian Zhang
Summary: The addition of zeolite in the co-composting of chicken manure and straw significantly reduced the emissions of ammonia and N2O, and increased the nitrate content. Zeolite also promoted the abundance of nitrification genes and inhibited the expression of denitrification genes.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Rohit Dey, Franziska Ortiz Tena, Song Wang, Josef Martin Messmann, Christian Steinweg, Claudia Thomsen, Clemens Posten, Stefan Leu, Matthias S. Ullrich, Laurenz Thomsen
Summary: This study investigated the operation of a 1000L microalgae-based membrane photobioreactor system for continuous secondary wastewater treatment. The research focused on a green microalgae strain called Desmodesmus sp. The study aimed to understand key trends and optimization strategies by conducting experiments in both summer and winter seasons. The findings showed that maintaining low cell concentrations during periods of light inhibition was beneficial for nutrient uptake rates. Effective strategies for enhancing algae-based wastewater treatment included cell mass recycling and adjusting dilution rates based on light availability.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
