Ryozo Noguchi

Simple and rapid determination of free fatty acids in brown rice by FTIR spectroscopy in conjunction with a second-derivative treatment.

A simple and rapid method for the determination of free fatty acid (FFA) content in brown rice using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) in conjunction with second-derivative treatment was proposed. Ground brown rice (10g) was soaked in toluene (20mL) for 30min, and the filtrate of the extract was placed in a 1mm CaF2 liquid cell. The transmittance spectrum of the filtrate was recorded using toluene for the background spectrum. The absorption band due to the CO stretching mode of FFAs was detected at 1710cm(-1), and the Savitzky-Golay second-derivative treatment was performed for band separation. A single linear regression model for FFA was developed using the 1710cm(-1) band in the second-derivative spectra of oleic acid in toluene (0.25-2.50gL(-1)), and the model displayed high prediction accuracy with a determination coefficient of 0.998 and a root mean square error of 0.03gL(-1).

Optimum Design of Tractor-Rotary Tillage System by Parameter Identification

Abstract From the viewpoint of evaluation of torque curve generated by tillage resistance of rotary blade, reliable techniques of simulation and identification through torque curve separation by using the Gauss-Newton method (GNM) are discussed. A simple method for identifying the parameters is established, which are characterized by soil condition and are of importance for the design of the tractor-rotary tillage system in agricultural machinery . It is clarified that the order of the values of mean and standard deviation of measured torque curve can be estimated by the simulation using the torque curve quadrilateral model.

Eluted Soluble Silica Content in Rice Husk Charcoal Produced by Rice Husk Burner

This study aims to compare burner combustion method with conventional method from the viewpoint of total amount of eluted soluble silica in rice husk charcoal (RHC). RHC was prepared in an electric furnace by controlling the combustion temperature and time. The amount of eluted soluble silica in RHC was measured by the molybdenum blue absorptiometric method. The amount of unburned carbon and the crystallization of silica were measured by weight change between RHC production and by the specific surface area and pore volume of RHC, respectively. As a result, RHC combusted at 900 °C for 3 min as a developed rice husk burner contained 60% of the amount of eluted soluble silica in RHC combusted by conventional method at 400°C for 60 min. With regard to the mechanism of silica elusion, in short-term combustion assuming a developed rice husk burner, high temperature was suitable for increasing the amount of eluted soluble silica because it was determined by eliminating the plant fiber covering silica in rice husk. On the other hand, in long-term combustion assuming conventional method, low temperature combustion showed the possibility for increasing the amount of eluted soluble silica because it was determined by the crystallization of silica.

Development of Expert System for Selecting Tomato (solanum lycopersicum L.) Varieties

The increasing number of tomato varieties with their unique features, has introduced greater subjectivity and complexity for selection of tomato varieties. This study developed Expert System Selection of Tomato Varieties (SIPMAT) to assist dissemination of knowledge related to the selection of tomato varieties. This system was also developed to help farmers to determine varieties that match with some parameters or user preferences. This expert system used 135 tomato varieties. Inference engine developed on the expert system using Tahani fuzzy logic rules combined with Simple Additive Weighting (SAW) as weighting rules. There are 9 parameters used for selection in the system including planting goals, altitude, resistance to diseases, fruit size, fruit shape, hardness, yield potential, maturity and fruit color with weight of each parameter according to experts and farmer preferences. The prototype was developed on web using PHP programming language and MySql for data base management system. The system was tested and it showed the accuracy of 86.2%.