1,720,991 research outputs found
Experimental tests on a specific machine for distribution of pesticides in vineyards of Apulian Region: size and ecological criteria
No full textThe goal of the present research is to define size criteria for the design of specific machines for the distribution of pesticides in wine-growing context of Apulia Region, through the development of the experimental results.
It was designed and realized a specific version of pulled straddle sprayer, air convection type, single-row, characterized by a spraying tunnel and a recovery system of the product that has not affected the plant. The innovations characterizing the machine are mainly the type, position and orientation of the of air flow system, in the shielding and in the geometry of the straddle tunnel, by which were taken into account the sizes and types of cultivation of local cultivars, for which there are currently no machines on the market.
The prototype was tested by standstill distribution trials and tank filled with water.
Based on the results, we are modifying the prototype in order to reduce its overall lateral dimension, the fenders width (in particular the one opposite to the panel), the shortening of the support ends, the repositioning of the hydraulic circuit
Optimization of Process Variables for the Sustainable Extraction of Phenolic Compounds from Chicory and Fennel By-Products
No full textThe production of minimally processed vegetables generates large amounts of by-products whose concentrations in bioactive compounds is comparable to those of the edible part. The aim of this work was the optimization of sustainable processes for the extraction of phenolic compounds from chicory and fennel by-products using water as solvent. The results were compared with those obtained through a conventional extraction performed with a 70% ethanol aqueous solution as extraction solvent. The ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and microwave-assisted extractions (MAE) were established by developing two Box–Behnken designs, respectively, a four-factor, three-level design and a three-factor, three-level design. A quadratic polynomial model was useful in optimizing both the ultrasonic (R2 0.8473 for chicory and R2 0.9208 for fennel) and microwave (R2 0.9145 for chicory and R2 0.7836 for fennel) extraction of bioactive compounds as well as the antioxidant activity of extract (R2 0.8638 for chicory and R2 0.9238 for fennel treated with ultrasounds; R2 0.9796 for chicory and R2 0.7486 for fennel submitted to MAE). The UAE conditions able to maximize the total phenolic concentrations were: 10 g/100 mL, 55 °C, t: 60 min, 72 W for chicory (9.07 mg gallic acid/g dm) and 15 g/100 mL, 45 °C, t: 40 min, 120 W for fennel (6.64 mg gallic acid/g dm). Concerning MAE, the highest phenolic concentrations were obtained applying 7.5 g/100 mL; 2 min; 350 W for chicory (8.23 mg gallic acid/g dm); 7.5 g/100 mL; 3 min; 160 W for fennel (6.73 mg gallic acid/g dm). Compared to conventional solvent extraction, UAE and MAE allowed the obtainment of (a) chicory extracts richer in phenolic compounds (+48% and +34%, respectively), in less time (4-fold and 90-fold reduction, respectively) and (b) fennel, extracts with slightly lower amount of phenolics (−11.7% and −10.5%, respectively) but halving the extraction time (UAE) or reducing it to 60-fold (MAE)
Experimental Tests in Production of Ready-to-Drink Primitive Wine with Different Modes of Circulation of the Fermenting Must
Full text linkEnergy efficiency is an increasingly important issue in the wine industry worldwide. The focus on quality in wine production has led to increased attention being paid to the product at all stages of processing. The interaction with mechanical components is considered one of the possible critical points in the vinification process, and it becomes fundamental to optimize specific points in the wine production line using the best extraction technique. Therefore, in this work, experimental monitoring of two types of product circulation systems in fermentation was carried out in a winery in Puglia (Italy). In particular, the functional performance and energy consumption of two identical vinification lines were monitored, in which the only variables were two types of circulating systems for the fermenting must: pump-over and pneumatic cap breaking. During the trials, a homogeneous batch of Primitivo grapes was processed, hand-picked and taken to the winery within 1 h of harvesting, where a "ready-to-drink" wine production line was set up. A net quantity of 1000 hL of destemmed grapes was placed in two identical vertical steel tanks. Both wine tanks were monitored and equipped with an automated assembly system and a pneumatic marc breaker. Once both tanks were filled, a first break of the cap was carried out using a pneumatic system in one tank and an automatic pump-over in the other. For the grapes and type of wine studied, the pneumatic system showed better functional performance in terms of vinification speed and energy consumption; on the other hand, the pump-over system performed better in analytical terms. Finally, the results obtained highlight the need for further studies on equipment design to obtain significant benefits in terms of wine production costs while maintaining the quality standards required for "ready-to-drink" wines
Analisi della vibrazione e della produttività di un piccolo scuotitore per la raccolta meccanica delle olive
No full textGoing Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
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