Academic literature on the topic 'Mid micron wool'

Abstract Average fiber diameter (AFD) of wool is one of the most important measurements for determining the value of wool and for improving its quality through selective breeding. A new instrument the FibreLux Micron Meter™ (FL) was compared to the OFDA2000, both of which are meant for on-farm measurement of AFD. Mid-side samples were collected, a staple removed and measured on the OFDA2000 and then on the FL. Measurements with the OFDA2000 and FL were made on-farm prior to shearing. The same staple was taken to the laboratory and measured on the Laser Scan (LS) a reference method for AFD. All measurements were compared using the IWTO-0 Appendix B (2002) procedure for comparison of methods. The OFDA2000 compared favorably to the LS. The slope did not differ from 1 (P = 0.44), there was no level dependent bias(P = 0.46), and r = 0.94. Compared to the LS the FL slope (1.15) differed from 1 (P = 0.03), and there was level dependent bias (P = 0.03), and r = 0.77. The FL underpredicted AFD in fine wools and overpredicted AFD on coarse wools. Samples that measured 15 µm by the reference method would be expected to measure 14.3 µm on the FL and samples that measured 25 µm on the LS would measure 25.7 µm on the FL. A comparison between the FL and the OFDA2000 showed that the results were similar to previously reported results from our laboratory that were conducted on samples in the lab. The FL is suitable for on-farm testing of AFD for selecting animals to improve AFD and for classing wool.

An individual merino sheep’s output of wool production is influenced by synergistic interactions of sheep genetics, climate, farm management, and nutrition available to the whole flock. The price paid to the producer for this wool commodity is determined via numerous tested parameters and /or subjective appraisal of the raw greasy wool. This research investigated the level of variation in wool cortisol (a physiological stress biomarker) and wool micron (MIC) in Merino ewes (Ovis aries), pre-partum and post-lambing (lactation/lambs at foot), using maiden ewe (n = 38) managed in an outdoor paddock in a commercial farm. The key findings of this study are; (1) wool quality indicators showed a significant variation between pre- and post- parturition including significant reduction in MIC and (2) there was a negative correlation between wool cortisol levels and wool micron pre-parturition (rs = − 0.179, p < 0.05). This relationship between wool cortisol and wool micron was positive (rs = + 0.29, p < 0.05) during post-parturition suggesting that ewes with lambs at foot ended up with finer wool (reduction in fibre diameter) but they also maintained high levels of wool cortisol. Furthermore, the comfort factor, curvature, standard deviation and spin fineness of the wool were also significantly reduced post-parturition. The results of this study show that metabolic resources partitioning in ewe associated with pregnancy and lambing can result in a reduction in wool quality indices. The activity of the HPA-axis is attenuated during late gestation and parturition as a maternal adaptation; however, the results of our study show that wool cortisol remained similar between pre- and post- lambing. This result indicates that environmental stressors that may have been operating on farm (e.g., cold winter period) could influence on maternal physiological stress response however the exact level of influence of environment conditions on ewe stress levels and productivity traits (e.g., lambing success and wool quality) warrants further investigation. In conclusion, the use of top-knot wool sampling in combination with wool cortisol analysis provides researchers with a convenient method to quantify wool quality and physiological stress simultaneously under commercial sheep production.

(Co) variances for greasy fleece weight (GFW), clean fleece weight (CFW), mean fibre diameter (MFD), staple strength (SS), coefficient of variation of fibre diameter (CVFD), birthweight (BW), weaning weight (WW), and yearling weight (YW) were estimated for 5108 Australian Merino sheep from the CSIRO Fine Wool Project, born between 1990 and 1994. Covariances between these traits and number of lambs weaned per ewe joined (NLW) were also estimated. Significant maternal genetic effects were found for GFW, CFW, BW, WW, and YW. Estimates of heritability were biased upwardly when maternal effects were ignored. The maternal heritability estimates for GFW, CFW, BW, WW, and YW were 0.17, 0.15, 0.38, 0.28, and 0.13, respectively. Maternal effects were not important for MFD, CVFD, SS, and NLW. Direct-maternal genetic correlations within each fleece weight and bodyweight trait were estimated to be moderately negative (–0.26 to –0.48). The effect of ignoring maternal genetic effect was explored using selection index theory. Accounting for the maternal effects in both the selection criteria and breeding objective increased the overall response by 14.3%, 4.8%, 2.6%, 1.4%, and 0.0% in 3, 6, 12, 20 and 30% micron premium scenarios, respectively, compared with when the maternal effects were only included in breeding objective. Complete ignorance of the maternal effects led to overestimation in overall response of 2.8–35.7% for different micron premium scenarios in contrast to when the maternal effects were ignored in the selection index weight, but were included in the breeding objective. The results indicate that the maternal genetic effects of fleece weight and bodyweight should be considered in Merino breeding programs.

Ongoing climate variability strongly affects high-elevation forests, influencing the wood formation process (e.g., xylogenesis). Furthermore, spatio-temporal studies to establish links of wood properties and tree performance are needed. Using linear mixed-effects models, empirical cumulative distribution functions, and spatial analysis, we explore time trends and space connections of wood density of Pinus hartwegii Lindl. to remotely sensed variables (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer MODIS-derived) in two high-elevation forests in México, Tláloc (TLA) and Jocotitlán (JOC) Mountains. Results indicated that elevation and cambial age effects are important factors explaining wood density variation. Minimum earlywood—MID, average—AVE, and maximum latewood density—MXD were statistically similar between mountains (p > 0.05), but TLA showed a significant increase in MID over time with higher values after 1950. Wood density values and spatial correlations were site-dependent with TLA exhibiting the highest correlations between MXD and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) of the spring season (r = 0.59, p < 0.05). Overall, correlations to remotely sensed information were positive with MXD, negative for MID and divergent for AVE. Historical temperature defines MID along the elevation gradient, while MXD was related to soil moisture only at low-elevation sites where soils are deeper. We found that two high-elevation forests, 115 km away from each other, with similar climate, soil, and vegetation, behaved differently regarding their xylogenesis, indicating the potential of using the link between wood micro-density and remotely sensed information to understand forest response to climate change effects.

The research for this thesis "Options for Developing a New Mid Micron Value Proposition for Consumers", is a part of a larger "New Mid Micron Products" project initiated by Mid Micron New Zealand Inc with the key goal of turning the Mid Micron Sector into a more vibrant and profitable one. The motivation for the project can be found in the dramatic fall in demand for New Zealand Mid Micron wool over the past decade. Two dominant causes for the fall in demand for Mid Micron wool were identified: the substandard skin comfort of final products made from Mid Micron wool, and a problem with the structure of the Mid Micron Sector. These problems are addressed in the "New Mid Micron Products" project that combines new product development and new marketing initiatives. Product development involved the use of new spinning technology to improve skin comfort quality and develop new products that are softer and prickle free. The aim is to extract more value for woolgrowers by having the wool converted into a higher value product. The new marketing initiatives, which were identified in this thesis research, Focusing On New Market Segments via E-Commerce and Reconfiguring The Value Chain, and concentrate on the operational issues of capturing the value from the newly developed Mid Micron products. Taking into account the nature of the overall Mid Micron Project and type of developed products, this research identified the Operational Excellence and Product Leadership models as alternative routes to develop a new Mid Micron Value Proposition for consumers. Operational Excellence, and the associated Cost Leadership strategy, is a low capital investment option, while Product Leadership and the associated Differentiation strategy is a high capital investment option. The models' principles and their elements, products, price and delivery to market, are evaluated in the context of the Mid Micron Business.

The present work investigates the mass loss of fine wood biomass using a TA INSTRUMENTS SDT 2960 simultaneous DSC-TGA instrument. The samples of sawdust were classified according to the grain size (< 0.063, 0.063–0.125, 0.125–0.25, 0.25–0.5, 0.5–1, and > 1 mm) and the micro samples were tested with air at a constant heating rate of 10 K/min, from the room temperature up to 800°C. From the results the kinetic properties of the biomass fuel were determined using the 1st order Coats-Redfern equation. A transient thermal model of the fuel was implemented and was coupled with the biomass kinetic data in order to compute the mass loss of individual pellets and the results were compared with experimental data. The remaining mass, as fix carbon and ashes or unburnt substances, is approximately 3%. The kinetic parameters indicate that the biomass reactivity depends upon the particle size. The heating treatment of wood pellets at constant temperature and different time produced less nitrogen and more carbon and hydrogen for the short period of time.

MICROWAVE WOOD CHIP TREATMENT USE IN CHEMICAL PULP MANUFACTURING (TECHNICAL-ECONOMIC ASSESMENT) A. Leshchinskaya Plekhanov Russian University of Economics. 36 Stremyannyy Pereulok, 115093 Moscow, Russia, e-mail: alixfl@mail.ru] Keywords: chemical pulping, microwave wood modification, pulp, softwood, wood chips. Large volumes of cellulose are produced from wood chips by chemical methods. Low permeability of many wood species causes problems in the chemical pulp industry. These include: very long cooking times, high chemical consumption, large material losses, high energy consumption, and environmental pollution. New microwave (MW) wood modification technology can provide an increase in wood permeability for liquids and gases, which solves many of these problems. The technology works by applying intensive MW power to green wood, which generates steam pressure within wood cells. High internal pressure destroys weak elements of wood structure, opens pores and forms micro and macro cracks. A several thousand-fold increase in wood permeability can be achieved in species previously found to be impermeable to liquids and gases. It allows a significant increase in the speed of pulp cooking and improves a production processes. The study of the technology showed radical potential improvements in the pulp industry through: increase in mill throughput significant reduction of chemical consumptionreduction of energy consumption • increase in pulp quality and yield improvement of environmental performance. Pulp manufacturing process includs timber chipping, microwave chip treatment, steaming, cooking, washing, and pulp making. The use of MW wood chip treatment in pulp mills with outputs of 50,000 to 500,000 air dry tons (ADT) per year requires MW equipment with power from 1000 to 10,000 kW. Economic modelling of this technology used in different pulp mill conditions allowed assessment of the effect of capital costs, electricity costs, labour costs and other cost components to specific total costs of MW chip processing. Economic assessment of MW technology application showed that specific costs of softwood chip processing at electricity costs of 0.08 - 0.12 US$/kWh are 25.4 -33.7 US$/ADT of pulp. Electricity costs form the most significant part of the total specific costs of MW processing and form 51-69% shear in the total specific costs. Under the same conditions capital costs form 15-20% shear, and labour costs form 5-18% shear of the total specific costs. The electricity cost increase from $0.04 to $0.24/kWh provides specific MW processing cost rise by 2.7 to 3.1 times at pulp mill output range 50,000 to 500,000 ADT/year. New technology use allows benefits up to 7 – 22 Mil US$ per year for pulp mills with output of more than 200,000 ADT/year. The technology can be used by pulp mills with batch and continuous digesting and is not limited by mill throughput. Ecological impacts and high economic advantages of this MW technology application in pulp and paper industry provide good opportunity for commercialisation.

Between territories: Incremental changes to the domestic spatial interface between private and public domains. Agnieszka Wir-Konas¹, Kyung Wook Seo¹ ¹Department of Architecture and Built Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne. Newcastle City Campus, 2 Ellison Pl, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST. E-mail: agnieszka.wir-konas@northumbria.ac.uk, kyung.seo@northumbria.ac.uk Keywords (3-5): building-street interface, incremental change, micro-morphology, private-public boundary, territory Conference topics and scale: Urban form and social use of space In this paper we investigate incremental changes to the relationship between private and public territory on the micro-morphological scale of the residential building-street interface. The building-street interface lies on the edge between two distinctively different spatial domains, the house and the street, and provides a buffer which may be adjusted to aid the transition from private to public territory. The structure of the space impacts both domains: it provides a fit transition from the private dwelling to the public territory, creates a space for probabilistic encounters between inhabitants and strangers, and maintains the liveability of the public street. The aim of this paper is threefold: Firstly, we recognise morphological differences in the structure of the interfaces and the way the transition from private to public territory was envisioned and designed in different societal periods. Secondly, we study incremental changes to the interface, representing individual adjustments to the private-public boundary, in order to recognize common types of adaptations to the existing structure of the interface. The history of changes to each individual building and building-street interface was traced by analysing planning applications and enforcements publicly provided by the city council. Lastly, we compare the capacity of each building-street interface to accommodate incremental change to the public-private transition. We argue that studying the incremental change of the interface and the capacity of each interface to accommodate micro-scale transformations aids in the understanding of the complex social relationship between an individual and a collective in the urban environment. References (180 words) Conzen, M. R. G. (1960). Alnwick, Northumberland: a study in town-plan analysis. Transactions and Papers (Institute of British Geographers) 27, iii-122. Gehl, J. (1986) ‘Soft edges in residential streets’. Scandinavian Housing and Planning Research 3(2), 89-192 Gehl, J. (2013) Cities for People (Island Press, Washington DC). Habraken, N. J. and Teicher, J. (2000) The structure of the ordinary: form and control in the built environment (MIT press, Cambridge). Hillier, B. and Hanson, J. (1984) The Social Logic of Space (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press). Jacobs, J. (1961) The Death and Life of Great American Cities (Middlesex: Penguin, Harmondsworth). Lawrence, R. J. (1987) Housing, dwellings and homes: Design theory, research and practice (John Wiley, Chichester). Palaiologou, G., Griffiths, S., and Vaughan, L. (2016), ‘Reclaiming the virtual community for spatial cultures: Functional generality and cultural specificity at the interface of building and street’. Journal of Space Syntax 7(1), 25-54. Whitehand, J. W. R. and Morton, N. J. and Carr, C. M. H. (1999) ‘Urban Morphogenesis at the Microscale: How Houses Change’, Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design 26(4), 503-515.