The high-strength aluminum alloys offer great potential for realizing lightweight constructions in car body construction. However, the use of aluminum alloys increases the overall thickness of the material, which poses new challenges for potential joining processes. This paper examines a process combination of friction stir spot welding (FSSW) and bonding for 4 mm EN AW 6082-T6 sheets. For the investigations, adhesive or glass beads were applied between the joining components and then the sheets were welded using ...

The aim of the study is to develop a real-time eyeblink detection algorithm that can detect eyeblinks during the closing phase for a virtual reality headset (VR headset) and accordingly classify the eye’s current state (open or closed). The proposed method utilises analysis of a motion vector for detecting eyelid closure, and a Haar cascade classifier (HCC) for localising the eye in the captured frame. When the downward motion vector (DMV) is detected, a cross-correlation between the current region of interest (eye ...

Simple Summary The reasons for the development of diseases in the transition period of dairy cows are manifold and highly farm- and cow-specific. Nevertheless, links exist between the degree of negative energy balance (NEB) and disease susceptibility, which suggest a mutual adverse relationship between immune and productive functions. Glucose is the most essential fuel and precursor for both immune cells and mammary epithelial cells (MEC). While the delivery of glucose by the intermediary metabolism is not always ...

Asian megacities have attracted much scientific attention in the context of global urbanization, but few quantitative studies analyze wetland transformation in the rural–urban interface. With its rampant growth and transformation from a tree-lined “Garden City” to a busy megalopolis with often-blocked highways and large built-up areas, Bengaluru (Karnataka, S-India) is a good example for assessing how urbanization has led to the acute degradation of wetlands. We therefore investigated long-term land cover and wetland ...

The growing demand for wood to meet EU renewable energy targets has increasingly come under scrutiny for potentially increasing EU import dependence and inducing land use change abroad, with associated impacts on the climate and biodiversity. This article builds on research accounting for levels of primary timber consumption—e.g., toward forest footprints—and developing reference values for benchmarking sustainability—e.g., toward land use targets—in order to improve systemic monitoring of timber and forest use. ...

This article examines water awareness campaign messaging of the Water Efficiency and Public Information for Action (WEPIA) campaign. Using Jordanian government documents and structured interviews, it argues that the Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI) promotes water awareness campaigns to shape water users’ habits and perspectives on water. The goal of this strategy is to align popular concerns about water security with government concerns over state security, i.e., to create responsible water citizens. This article ...

The purpose of this research was to determine which environmental factors within the pen space differ between the locations where pigs choose to lie and areas they avoid. Data on external weather engconditions and the construction parameters for an existing commercial finishing pig building were input into a Dynamic Thermal (DT) model generating heat flow and surface temperature patterns in the structure and these were then input into a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model to generate data on the theoretical ...

Anchote (Coccinia abyssinica) is an indigenous tuber crop of the Ethiopian Highlands. It is popular in the western Oromia Region of the country. Apart from food, the crop is also used in traditional medicine. Anchote tubers possess two variations in its tissue colour, red and white. In this study, a small market survey and a nutritional comparison of red and white anchote were conducted. White tissue anchote seems to be more popular, due to its soft texture and ease of cooking. However, the red variant was considered ...

The compound eye of cockroaches is obligatory for entrainment of the Madeira cockroach's circadian clock, but the cellular nature of its entrainment pathways is enigmatic. Employing multiple‐label immunocytochemistry, histochemistry, and backfills, we searched for photic entrainment pathways to the accessory medulla (AME), the circadian clock of the Madeira cockroach. We wanted to know whether photoreceptor terminals could directly contact pigment‐dispersing factor‐immunoreactive (PDF‐ir) circadian pacemaker neurons ...

Crop yield simulation using the Denitrification–Decomposition (DNDC) model can help to understand key bottlenecks for improved nitrogen (N) use efficiency and estimate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in West African urban vegetable production. The DNDC model was successfully calibrated using high‐resolution weather records, information on management practices and soils, and measured biomass accumulation and N uptake by amaranth (Amaranthus L.), jute mallow (Corchorus olitorius L.), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), and ...