Towards a control model for the highly cybernetic farming ecosystems

Abstract

A dynamic model based on the linear systems theory is developed in designing a highly cybernetic farming strategy to efficiently manage residuals generated in farm ecosystems. A linear cybernetic model would be used to describe the dynamic behavior of resource flow in the farm ecosystem in which the state variables are resource quantities, and the control variables are residual quantities. The controlled process is defined as the controlled management strategy change. Cybernetic mechanism shows the application of residuals as control measures have determinate effects on the controlled process as along as the farming system is observable and controllable in the control sense. To illustrate the model algorithm the idea is applied to simulate the dynamic response of residual phosphorus concentrations in an integrated pig/corn farming system located in the south Taiwan region. General results show that the residual phosphorous concentration is influenced by farming activities which are controlled by a system of gross input and net output parameters. This paper demonstrates using input‐output analysis technique that residuals generated in the farming system is the most important cybernetic variable, so that the proper management of residuals alone has the potential to maintain future productivity and sustainability.     

Quantification of ventilation on distribution of gaseous pollutants emitted from stored swine manure

Abstract

This paper describes the quantification of the effects of ventilation on distribution of gaseous pollutants as a result of mass transfer from stored manure to ventilation air in a swine confinement building. A multiple airflow regions model is developed and used to simulate the dynamics of gaseous pollutants in any airspace within a ventilated slotted‐inlet enclosure. The model predictions compared favorably with the measured results adapted from a literature research at ventilation rates between 443 and 932 m³/hr (deviations of 5.1 ‐ 14.68%) for carbon dioxide and ammonia concentrations. A comparison between predictions and measured carbon dioxide concentrations derived from an environmental chamber test found deviations ranged from 3.1 ‐ 5.6% at ventilation rates between 281 and 995 m³/hr. The results suggest that the model can be experimentally applied between ventilation rates of 443 and 995 m³/hr. The model also capable of predicting air exchange rate required to maintain acceptable levels of gaseous pollutants in swine confinement buildings based on gas emission rates.     

Municipal solid waste pyrolysis under circulated pyrolytic gas atmosphere

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - RDF made of municipal solid waste was pyrolyzed under simulated pyrolytic gas (PG) atmosphere and N2 atmosphere. Besides pyrolysis temperature, the...     

某深基坑支护设计及监测分析

以广州南方房产大厦深基坑支护结构为例,介绍了深基坑支护的设计指导思想和监测。文中介绍的方法对类似工程的设计有一定指导意义。     

Maternal serum levels of total activin-A in first-trimester trisomy 21 pregnancies

Maternal serum total activin-A concentration was measured in 45 pregnancies affected by trisomy 21 and 493 control unaffected pregnancies at 10–14 weeks of gestation. In the trisomy 21 pregnancies total activin-A concentration was significantly higher (1.36 MoM of the unaffected pregnancies) and in 16% of cases the level was above the 95th centile of normal. The log₁₀ SD for the control group and the trisomy 21 group were 0.17 and 0.22, respectively. The median pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) in this trisomy 21 series was 0.49 and for free β-hCG was 2.05. In the trisomy group there were significant positive associations between total activin-A and PAPP-A (0.6071) and free β-hCG (0.4255). The low median difference and the high overlap in values between trisomic and unaffected pregnancies make total activin-A of little practical use in first-trimester screening for trisomy 21. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Coupling of zero valent iron and biobarriers for remediation of trichloroethylene in groundwater

This study attempted to construct a three series barrier system to treat high concentrations of trichloroethylene (TCE; 500 mg/L) in synthetic groundwater. The system consisted of three reactive barriers using iron fillings as an iron-based barrier in the first column, sugarcane bagasse mixed with anaerobic sludge as an anaerobic barrier in the second column, and a biofilm coated on oxygen carbon inducer releasing material as an aerobic barrier in the third column. In order to evaluate the extent of removal of TCE and its metabolites in the aquifer down gradient of the barrier system, a fourth column filled with sand was applied. Residence time of the system was investigated by a bromide tracer test. The results showed that residence time in the column system of the control set and experimental set were 23.62 and 29.99 days, respectively. The e ciency of the three series barrier system in removing TCE was approximately 84% in which the removal e ciency of TCE by the iron filling barrier, anaerobic barrier and aerobic barrier were 42%, 16% and 25%, respectively. cis-Dichloroethylene (cis-DCE), vinyl chloride (VC), ethylene and chloride ions were observed as metabolites following TCE degradation. The presence of chloride ions in the e uent from the column system indicated the degradation of TCE. However, cis-DCE and VC were not fully degraded by the proposed barrier system which suggested that another remediation technology after the barrier treatment such as air sparging and adsorption by activated carbon should be conducted.     

Data mining for occupational injuries in the Taiwan construction industry

There is a higher rate of occupational injury in the construction industry than most other industries on average. However, steps can be taken to reduce worker risk through effective injury prevention strategies. In this article, association rule mining is employed in identifying the characteristics of occupational injuries in the construction industry. Accident reports during the period 1999–2004 are extracted from case reports of the Northern Region Inspection Office of the Council of Labor Affairs of Taiwan. In addition to general factors, several factors related to weather conditions are included in this article. The results show that there are some patterns of occupational injuries in the construction industry. The effect of rain on the occurrence of fatalities is of great significance. Proposed inspection plans should be in accordance with the type of construction and environmental evaluation. The findings identified in this article provide a direction for more effective inspection strategies and injury prevention programs.     

ASBR工艺的研究及应用

对厌氧序批式工艺(ASBR工艺)进行了系统分析。分析包括工艺过程、工艺特点、工艺的调控及在国内外的应用等。着重研究了该工艺的影响因素,如温度、碱度、进水时间与反应时间比、反应器尺寸等。分析研究表明,ASBR工艺是一种新型高效厌氧节能的工艺,有许多优点,具有广泛的应用前景,非常适合于处理我国复杂的废水水质。     

无人值守AA3连续流动仪测定水和废水中氨氮研究

采用无人值守连续流动分析法对地表水和废水中氨氮进行检测,该方法在0.00~10.0 mg/L范围内线性良好,检出限为0.015 mg/L,相对标准偏差为0.6%~1.4%,实际样品加标回收率为95.0%~105%,精密度和准确度均满足地表水和废水中氨氮测定的要求,有较好的应用推广价值.无人值守连续流动分析法相对于传统的手工方法具有明显的优势:在线蒸馏装置可以完成对水中氨氮的蒸馏提取;节省时间,即使在夜间也能自动工作,分析完成样品后自动清洗管路并关机;试剂使用量少,降低了对环境和分析人员的危害.