The main objective of this study was to identify optimal burner orientation for a newly designed flame cultivator by quantifying the flame temperature distributions of cross, back, and parallel position of burners at different heights of the soybean canopy (distance from the soil surface). Flame temperatures were measured within-row for three burner orientations at seven propane doses (20–100 kg/ha) and eight different canopy heights (0–18 cm above soil surface). Soybean plants in V3 growth stage were flamed with the same doses and burner orientations, and 28 days after treatment (DAT) crop injury (0%–100%), plant height (cm), dry matter (g) and grain yield (t/ha) were assessed. All three burner orientations had high flame temperatures at lower canopy heights (<6 cm high) that gradually decreased with increasing canopy height (6–18 cm). Measured temperatures ranged from 33 to 234 ℃ for cross flaming, 29 to 269 ℃ for back flaming and 23 to 155 ℃ for parallel flaming, with high variability in temperature patterns. Back flaming generated flame temperatures above 100℃ at a lower propane dose (27 kg/ha) compared to cross and parallel flaming (40 and 50 kg/ha). For all tested parameters, parallel and cross flaming had better impact on soybeans than back flaming, but for weed control in crop rows, cross flaming is recommended.

No abstract

Mouse functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has interesting potential for basic neuroscience, but there is significant variability in data quality across studies. This variability may be partly explained by differences in scanner stability, however there are no reports of scanner quality assessments in the mouse fMRI field. We evaluated the stability of our preclinical scanner by acquiring an fMRI time-series of an agarose phantom then computing stability metrics. We found that our scanner has acceptable temporal stability but unexpected periodic fluctuations. Our methods are openly available so that other groups can easily implement stability assessments on their respective preclinical scanners.

No abstract

In this paper, two different approaches in analyzing the tractor lifetime assessment are presented. The first one is based on reliability theory and the other one is based on the relevant experience that was implemented in the ASABE standards. In this way, the dependence of tractor reliability and lifetime on working conditions is presented through two models verified in the paper. Tractors from two different producers were analyzed. Experimental data were collected during the tractor working engagement at the fields of Agricultural Corporation Belgrade (ACB). Analyzing the obtained data it is possible to find the mismanagement in the tractor usage. Removing them it is possible to extend the period of tractor utilization. In this way the overall organization of tractor-machinery system on a farm can significantly be improved.