Digital Commons Network^™

Assessment Of Grass Production And Efficiency Of Utilisation On Three Northern Ireland Dairy Farms, A. J. Dale, P. D. Barrett, C. S. Mayne

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Recent research has shown that grazed grass can be an expensive forage for milk production, particularly if herbage production is low or utilisation is inefficient. There is very limited data on the level of herbage grown and utilised on commercial farms. The objective of this project was to quantify grass production and efficiency of utilisation on farm to substantiate the potential of grazed grass for profitable milk production.

Unmanned Aircraft Systems For Precision Meteorology: An Analysis Of Gnss Position Measurement Error And Embedded Sensor Development, Karla S. Ladino

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

The overarching objective of this research was to enhance our comprehension of the three-dimensional precision of meteorological measurements obtained using small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Two complimentary experiments were conducted to achieve this objective.

The first experiment entailed the development and implementation of a system to determine the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) position accuracy on a UAS platform. This system was utilized to assess the static and dynamic accuracy of L1 and L1/L2 GNSS receivers in real-time kinematic (RTK) and non-RTK fix modes. Adjusted two-sample t-tests revealed significant differences in horizontal and vertical error between RTK and non-RTK receivers …

Persistent Miscalibration For Low And High Achievers Despite Practice Test Feedback In An Introductory Biology Course, Jennifer L. Osterhage

Biology Faculty Publications

Students' ability to accurately judge their knowledge is crucial for effective learning. However, students' perception of their current knowledge is often misaligned with their actual performance. The relationship between learners' perception of their performance and their actual performance on a task is defined as calibration. Previous studies have shown significant student miscalibration in an introductory biology course: students' predicted exam scores were, on average, significantly higher than their actual scores. The goal of this study was to determine whether completion of a practice test before exams would result in better performance and calibration. The hypothesis was that students who completed …

Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling Of Nanoceria Systemic Distribution In Rats Suggests Dose- And Route-Dependent Biokinetics, Ulrika Carlander, Tshepo Paulsen Moto, Anteneh Assefa Desalegn, Robert A. Yokel, Gunnar Johanson

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Cerium dioxide nanoparticles (nanoceria) are increasingly being used in a variety of products as catalysts, coatings, and polishing agents. Furthermore, their antioxidant properties make nanoceria potential candidates for biomedical applications. To predict and avoid toxicity, information about their biokinetics is essential. A useful tool to explore such associations between exposure and internal target dose is physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling. The aim of this study was to test the appropriateness of our previously published PBPK model developed for intravenous (IV) administration when applied to various sizes of nanoceria and to exposure routes relevant for humans.

Methods: Experimental biokinetic data …

Load Model Verification, Validation And Calibration Framework By Statistical Analysis On Field Data, Xiangqing Jiao, Yuan Liao, Thai Nguyen

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Accurate load models are critical for power system analysis and operation. A large amount of research work has been done on load modeling. Most of the existing research focuses on developing load models, while little has been done on developing formal load model verification and validation (V&V) methodologies or procedures. Most of the existing load model validation is based on qualitative rather than quantitative analysis. In addition, not all aspects of model V&V problem have been addressed by the existing approaches. To complement the existing methods, this paper proposes a novel load model verification and validation framework that can systematically …

Fourth-Generation Fan Assessment Numeration System (Fans) Design And Performance Specifications, Michael P. Sama, George B. Day, Laura M. Pepple, Richard S. Gates

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The Fan Assessment Numeration System (FANS) is a measurement device for generating ventilation fan performance curves. Three different-sized FANS currently exist for assessing ventilation fans commonly used in poultry and livestock housing systems. All FANS consist of an array of anemometers inside an aluminum shroud that traverse the inlet or outlet of a ventilation fan. The FANS design has been updated several times since its inception and is currently in its fourth-generation (G4). The current design iteration (FANS-G4) is reported in this article with an emphasis on the hardware and software control, data acquisition systems, and operational reliability. Six FANS-G4 …

Automated Calibration Of Electrochemical Oxygen Sensors For Use In Compost Bedded Pack Barns, John T. Evans, Michael P. Sama, Joseph L. Taraba, George B. Day

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The objective of this study was to develop an automated calibration process for a galvanic cell type oxygen sensor. The manufacturer recommended a two-point calibration at room temperature; however, testing revealed that the response was not linear when both the temperature and oxygen concentrations varied. Thus, additional points were needed to generate a representative calibration equation and to reduce the sensor prediction interval. The calibration process needed to be capable of automatically recording sensor response (voltage) at an array of temperatures and oxygen concentrations. Calibration gases were used to precisely control the oxygen concentration inside a small manifold, and an …

Am I Able To Predict How I Will Do? Examining Calibration In An Undergraduate Biology Course, Trisha A. Turner

Theses and Dissertations--Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology

Students who are self-regulated are more likely to succeed academically, whereas students who have deficiencies in their learning have been recognized as having a lack of metacognitive awareness (Valdez, 2013; Zimmerman, 2002). If students are metacognitively unaware in large introductory courses, they may have difficulty knowing when to self-regulate and modify their learning (Lin & Zabrucky, 1998; Stone, 2000). One manner in which researchers have assessed students’ metacognitive awareness is by asking students to estimate how they think they will do on tasks compared to their actual performance, known as calibration. The purpose of this study was to examine students’ …

Hybrid Diffuse Optical Techniques For Continuous Hemodynamic Measurement In Gastrocnemius During Plantar Flexion Exercise, Brad Henry, Mingjun Zhao, Yu Shang, Tim L. Uhl, D. Travis Thomas, Eleftherios S. Xenos, Sibu P. Saha, Guoqiang Yu

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Occlusion calibrations and gating techniques have been recently applied by our laboratory for continuous and absolute diffuse optical measurements of foreann muscle hemodynamics during handgrip exercises. The translation of these techniques from the foreann to the lower limb is the goal of this study as various diseases preferentially affect muscles in the lower extremity. This study adapted a hybrid near-infrared spectroscopy and diffuse correlation spectroscopy system with a gating algorithm to continuously quantify hemodynamic responses of medial gastrocnemius during plantar flexion exercises in 10 healthy subjects. The outcomes from optical measurement include oxy-, deoxy-, and total hemoglobin poncentrations, blood oxygen …

Instrument Correction And Dynamic Site Profile Validation At The Central United States Seismic Observatory, New Madrid Seismic Zone, Clayton M.J. Brengman

Theses and Dissertations--Earth and Environmental Sciences

The Central United States Seismic Observatory (CUSSO), is a fifteen-element array of three-component accelerometers and seismometers in the New Madrid seismic zone, within the upper Mississippi embayment. Its location within the thick (up to 1 km) sequences of unlithified sediment comprising the embayment, make CUSSO a unique array in its ability to directly measure seismic wave propagation, including ground motion site effect; however, before the observational data can be used for analysis, the orientation and instrument response of the CUSSO array must be defined. This study used cross-correlation and direct comparisons to filter out the instrument response and determine the …

Measurement And Modeling Of Humidity Sensors, Jingbo Tong

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

Humidity measurement has been increasingly important in many industries and process control applications. This thesis research focus mainly on humidity sensor calibration and characterization. The humidity sensor instrumentation is briefly described. The testing infrastructure was designed for sensor data acquisition, in order to compensate the humidity sensor’s temperature coefficient, temperature chambers using Peltier elements are used to achieve easy-controllable stable temperatures. The sensor characterization falls into a multivariate interpolation problem. Neuron networks is tried for non-linear data fitting, but in the circumstance of limited training data, an innovative algorithm was developed to utilize shape preserving polynomials in multiple planes in …

Calibration Of A Method For Selecting Roundabouts As A Function Of The Inner Island Treatment, J. Falciani, Antonio Pratelli, Michael T. Martello, Reginald R. Souleyrette

Reginald R. Souleyrette

It is generally accepted that a driver’s ability to perceive, recognize, and react to surroundings contributes to safer roads. The objective of this paper is to investigate the perceptibility of roundabouts as influenced by their most distinctive feature – the central island treatment. Previous work has shown how visual perception of central island treatment can improve road safety performance. Recently, the authors have suggested a roundabout central island treatment classification scheme with three categories: Reduced, Compressed and Slender. Classifying roundabout central island treatment types was necessarily somewhat subjective. This paper introduces a more quantitative measure for central island visual perception, …

Performance Of Pan-Tilt Tracker Based On The Pin-Hole Lens Model, Vikas Chandra Mehta

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

In the modern day, recognition and tracking of face or the iris is potentially one of the most powerful ways of differentiating between an authentic person and an imposter. Our method uses stereo vision to track the 3-Dimensional coordinates of a target equivalent to a person’s eyes and using a pan-tilt unit we target these areas for additional processing such as iris or facial imaging. One of the most important parts involved in tracking is the way the pan-tilt unit is calibrated. There have been techniques in the past where PTZ (Pan-tilt-zoom) digital camera has been used and calibrated using …

Grain Drill Calibration Procedures For Winter Wheat, S. A. Shearer, Samuel G. Mcneill, G. A. Watkins, Stephen F. Higgins

Agricultural Engineering Extension Publications

Intensive wheat management requires attention to details, from planting through harvest. Perhaps most critical is stand establishment. While no-tilling wheat into corn stubble presents a range of problems in depth control and residue management, these problems do not minimize the importance of calibration.

Just as no two drills are manufactured alike, seed rarely is produced in uniform size, nor do individual metering cups deliver the same seed quantities. A few hours of attention to calibration at the start of fall planting will help producers control seed costs and achieve more desirable, uniform stands and better yields.

Potassium Soil Test Correlation And Calibration For Burley Tobacco Grown On An Allegheny Loam Soil, Kenneth L. Wells, James E. Dollarhide, Val Shields

Agronomy Notes

Burley tobacco removes large amounts of potassium (K) from soil. A 2,600 pound/A cured leaf crop removes around 200 lbs K/A/yr, with about 110 lbs of that in the leaf and 90 lbs in the stalk. Because of such a heavy soil demand for K, growers are always concerned that application of fertilizer K be sufficient for top production. The University of Kentucky's Soil Testing Laboratory (Division of Regulatory Services) provides a statewide soil testing service. The Mehlich-3 soil extractant is used by the UK lab, and soil test K values from use of this extractant (reported as lbs K/A) …