Engineering Commons^™

Enhancing The Adoption Of Soil Conservation Practices With Targeted Educational Programs, David P. Shelton, Elbert C. Dickey, Paul J. Jasa, David A. Biere

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

Two independent, but closely related, grant funded educational programs have been developed and implemented to reduce soil erosion in selected areas of eastern Nebraska, U.S.A. Traditional extension programming methods as well as other more nontraditional approaches have been extensively used. In one program, encompassing 220,000 ha of cropland, annual soil erosion has been reduced by 2.5 Mt and annual fuel savings of 1.5 ML have been achieved through a reduction in the number of tillage operations. During a one-year period in the second project, more than 81,000 m of terraces were constructed, which resulted in an annual soil erosion reduction …

The Cost Of Misapplication Of Herbicides, Robert Grisso, Elbert C. Dickey, Larry D. Schulze

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

A field survey of 103 private herbicide applicators was conducted during the spring of 1986 in 12 central and eastern Nebraska counties. The results showed that only 30% of the cooperators were applying herbicides within 5% of their intended application rate. Twenty-six percent of the cooperators over-applied herbicides during a single application, with an average cost due to misapplication of $3.11/ha ($1.26/a). If these values were extended over Nebraska, $4.26 million are expended for extra herbicides which were not necessary. The average cost of over application was in excess of $570 per application. Forty-four percent of the cooperators under-applied herbicides …

Surface Cover Provided By Selected Legumes, John E. Gilley, J. F. Power, P. J. Reznicek, S. C. Finkner

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

The use of legumes in conservation tillage systems may yield several benefits including reduced erosion resulting from establishment of surface cover. The effectiveness in furnishing surface cover of 18 plant species seeded on three different dates was evaluated over an 11-month period. For several of the legume species, planting date significantly influenced maximum surface cover and the number of days required to reach maximum cover. For each of the planting dates, hairy vetch achieved maximum cover as rapidly as any other legume and maintained the greatest cover throughout the study period. Relationships for estimating legume surface cover from vegetative mass …

Determining Crop Residue Cover With Electronic Image Analysis, Elbert C. Dickey, David P. Shelton, G.E. Meyer, K.T. Fairbanks

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

Crop residue management is one of the best and most efficient soil conservation methods available to farmers. Determinations of the percentage of the soil surface covered with crop residue are often needed for: soil conservation research; erosion control demonstrations; and maintaining compliance with federal, state, or local soil conservation regulations. A number of methods can be used to estimate residue cover, however, many have limitations. To help overcome some of these limitations, a technique, which uses readily-available microcomputer-related hardware and standard video camera equipment has been developed to estimate crop residue cover from photographic slides. This procedure is relatively rapid, …

Biocidal Derivatives Of Catechins, Peter E. Laks

Michigan Tech Patents

Sulfide derivatives of catechins derived from condensed tannins have broad spectrum biocidal characteristics. Epicatechin-4-alkylsulfides and cupric complexes thereof containing up to 20, preferably 5 to 15, carbon atoms are particularly effective biocides against wood rotting fungi and gram-positive bacteria. Such sulfides are prepared by reacting condensed tannin, either in the form of a purified tannin extract or comminuted plant tissue, with an appropriate thiol under mild acidic conditions.

Measurement Of Flow Components On Upland Areas Using Dye Dilution Techniques, S. C. Finkner, John E. Gilley

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

Dye dilution techniques can be used to measure rill and interrill-to-rill flow rates on upland areas. Procedures and equations for making flow measurements are described along with equations for estimating interrill length and width. If measurements of interrill length and rill width are available, use of simplified flow equations is possible.

Water and dye continuity concepts were utilized to develop generalized interrill-to-rill flow relationships. Measurement of flow from interrill-to-rill areas requires information on the concentration and rate of dye injection, and flow rate and dye concentration on both rill and interrill areas at a downslope sampling location. Dye dilution techniques …

Comparison Of Bulk Density Beneath A Belt Track And Tire, Leonard L. Bashford, A. J. Jones, L. N. Mielke

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

Wheel traffic is considered a major cause of soil compaction in production agriculture. Soil compaction depends on initial conditions, load, contact area and tire type and shape at the soil surface. The use of tractors equipped with tracks instead of tires has the potential of reducing soil compaction because of reduced surface contact pressure and difference in load distribution over a relatively long-narrow track. The introduction of a new agricultural tractor equipped with a rubber belt track permits a crawler tractor to compete with a large four-wheel drive tractor in both speed and mobility.
Soil bulk density was measured as …

A Timesaving Method For Labeling Figures, Tables And References, Randy Carlson

Biological Process Development Facility: Staff Publications

No matter how carefully an author outlines a manuscript, the figures, tables, and bibliographic citations are inevitably renumbered one or more times before the final draft. For example, the addition of a new reference to a late draft will sometimes entail the renumbering of all other references throughout the manuscript. A partial solution to this common technical problem in scientific writing is offered here. It is a refinement of an approach known to many scientists.

Biological Transformation And Detoxification Of 7,12-Dimethylbenzanthracene In Soil, K. Park, Ronald C. Sims, W. J. Doucette, J. E. Matthews

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

Biological transformation and detoxification of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anathracene (DMBA) were studied in a nonacclimated sandy loam soil. Parent 14C DMBA biodegraded extensively (62% to 20%), accompanying an increase of metabolite 14C fraction (4% to 53%). Incorporation of DMBA into non extractable soil residue ,4C increased from 12 to 17%, but the increase was not statistically significant. DMBA was transformed into several metabolic products in the soil system, including 4-hydroxy-, 5-hydroxy-, and 10-hydroxy-DMBA and 7,12-dihydro 12-methyl-7-methylene-benz(a)anthracene-12-ol. High polarity transformation products of DMBA demonstrated a negative mu tagenic response with the Ames mutagenicity assay, strain TA 100, for both low and neutral pH soils. …

Human Health Effects Assays, Ronald C. Sims, J. L. Sims, R. R. Dupont

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

Environmental health risk assessments based upon animal study results, epidemiology, quantitative structure activity relationships (QSARs), dose-response relationships, risk perception, and expert systems approaches, and the evaluation of mechanisms of carcinogenesis represent the focus for 1987. The term "biological risk assessment" was discussed by Clayson¹ to describe that part of risk assessment concerned with the relevance of specific animal results to the induction of human cancer. Guidelines for health assessment of suspect developmental toxicants addressed evaluation of data from animal testing studies.² Animal toxicity data on 200 chemicals and epidemiologic data on 30 chemicals was included within a data …

Myocardial Perfusion Pressure: A Predictor Of 24hour Survival During Prolonged Cardiac Arrest In Dogs, Karl B. Kern, Gordon A. Ewy, William D. Voorhees, Charles F. Babbs, Willis A. Tacker

Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Myocardial perfusion pressure, defined as the aortic diastolic pressure minus the right atria1 diastolic pressure, correlates with coronary blood flow during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and predicts initial resuscitation success. Whether this hemodynamic parameter can predict 24-h survival is not known. We examined the relationship between myocardial perfusion pressure and 24-h survival in 60 dogs that underwent prolonged (20 min) ventricular fibrillation and CPR. Forty-two (70%) animals were initially resuscitated and 20 (33%) survived for 24 h. Myocardial perfusion pressure was significantly greater when measured at 5, 10, 15 and 20 min of ventricular fibrillation in the resuscitated animals than in …

A Rapid, Widely Applicable Screen For Drugs That Suppress Free Radical Formation In Ischemia/Reperfusion, Steven C. Salaris, Charles F. Babbs

Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Substantial injury can occur during reoxygenation of previously ischemic tissue in many experimental models, as the result of the generation of oxygen-derived free radicals. To test the antiradical activity of potentially protective compounds in this setting, we developed a simple screening system, applicable to fresh biopsy specimens, in which warm ischemia and reoxygenation of excised tissue are performed in vitro. Tissue production of malondialdehyde (MDA) equivalents is used as a nonspecific-but-sensitive marker of oxygen radical damage. Test compounds with putative antiradical activity are added prior to the reoxygenation phase, and their ability to suppress MDA production is an index of …

A Rapid, Widely Applicable Screen For Drugs That Suppress Free Radical Formation In Ischemia/Reperfusion, Steven C. Salaris, Charles F. Babbs

Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Substantial injury can occur during reoxygenation of previously ischemic tissue in many experimental models, as the result of the generation of oxygen-derived free radicals. To test the antiradical activity of potentially protective compounds in this setting, we developed a simple screening system, applicable to fresh biopsy specimens, in which warm ischemia and reoxygenation of excised tissue are performed in vitro. Tissue production of malondialdehyde (MDA) equivalents is used as a nonspecific-but-sensitive marker of oxygen radical damage. Test compounds with putative antiradical activity are added prior to the reoxygenation phase, and their ability to suppress MDA production is an index of …

Fate And Transport Of Organics In Soil: Model Predictions And Experimental Results, B. D. Symons, Ronald C. Sims, W. J. Grenney

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

Laboratory batch reactors were used to generate quantitative information about the fate of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PNA) compounds in soil systems. First-order degradation rates and equilibrium partition coefficients determined in laboratory studies were used in the Vadose Zone Interactive Processes (VIP) mathematical model to predict the fate and behavior of the PNA compounds as a function of time and soil depth. Predicted model results were compared with independent laboratory soil column studies for model validation. The VIP model provided a good approximation of the degradation and transport of the seven PNA compounds evaluated after 6 months of incubation in soil. …

Monitoring Natural Air Corn Drying—A Demonstration Project, Richard O. Pierce, Gary L. Zoubek

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

A demonstration project is described where natural air corn drying performance was monitored weekly and drying results were printed in a local newspaper. The newspaper articles also gave management recommendations for the upcoming week. Similar demonstration projects can be conducted using the procedures described in this paper.

Surface Cover From Corn Residue On Sandy Soils, R. Todd, Norman L. Klocke, Elbert C. Dickey, Dennis Bauer

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

Corn residue left as surface cover after land preparation and planting by various combinations of tillage implements and surface planters, respectively, was measured on four research/ demonstration sites with sandy soils in Nebraska. Surface cover ranged from 51 to 80% for the no-till treatments to 14 to 53% for the twice-disked treatments. The wide range in cover was due to the amount of antecedent residues from the previous crop and the soil type which ranged from sandy loam to tine sands. Other tillage implements included a rolling cultivator, sweep-plow, and mulch-treader.

Calibration Accuracy Of Pesticide Application Equipment, Robert Grisso, E. J. Hewett, Elbert C. Dickey, R. D. Schnieder, E. W. Nelson

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

Afield survey of 140 private and commercial pesticide applicators was conducted during the spring of 1986 in 12 counties of central and eastern Nebraska. The results showed that one out of every three cooperators was applying pesticides within ± 5% of their intended application rate. Results indicated that applicators have reduced application errors from that of a similar survey conducted in 1979. However, most errors still can be traced to incorrect calibration. Ninety-four percent of the cooperators used some type of calibration method. Two-thirds used the "Known Area" method. Those using a calibration method more than once a year had …

Electronic Image Analysis Of Crop Residue Cover On Soil, George E. Meyer, Anthony Stepanek, David P. Shelton, Elbert C. Dickey

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

Classification procedures for using both black and white and color imaging systems were developed and tested for determination of percent residue cover on the soil surface from video and slide images. A spectral analysis of the image components was used for determining applicable wavelengths and filters. Color imagery provided an acceptable replacement for manual visual procedures. Black-and-white imagery also worked when appropriate blocking filters were used.

Correlation Of Starch Recovery With Assorted Quality Factors Of Four Corn Hybrids, Curtis L. Weller, Marvin R. Paulsen, Marvin P. Steinberg

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

A laboratory wet-milling process was developed for use in determining starch recovery of yellow dent corn. The effects of harvest moisture and drying air temperature on starch recovery were investigated for four hybrids. A split split-plot experimental design was used to evaluate the effects. Starch recovery was not significantly different among the hybrids; however, it did decreases both harvest moisture and drying air temperature increased. Starch recovery was correlated with quantitative measures of assorted quality factors. Regression analysis found starch recovery to be a function of starch content, test weight, and ethanol-soluble protein.

Nebraska's Modified-Open-Front Farrowing Houses Design And Operation, Gerald R. Bodman, Donald G. Levis, Duane E. Reese

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

Two modified-open-front non-mechanically ventilated farrowing houses with creep boxes were operated over a two year period. Annual energy requirements were in the range of 10.6 to 10.9 cents per crate per day. No adverse effects on pig performance were realized. In most instances pig performance exceeded national standards of excellent performance—survival rates in excess of 90% and 21-day pig weights of 5.9 to 6.8 kg (13 to 15 lb). The study verified that another alternative is available to producers who do not want additional mechanical equipment to operate and maintain.

Size Distribution Of Sediment As Affected By Surface Residue And Slope Length, John E. Gilley, S. C. Finkner, G. E. Varvel

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

Runoff samples for determination of size distribution of sediment were collected under simulated rainfall conditions at selected downslope distances on plots covered with sorghum and soybean residue at rates ranging from 0.00 to 6.73 t/ha . The effects of surface residue and slope length on size distribution of sediment were evaluated. Substantial movement of sediment in the form of aggregates was found for each of the residue treatments. Significant differences in size distribution of sediment occurred between residue treatments. For a given residue rate, differences in sediment size distribution were found between sorghum and soybean residue. Size distribution of sediment …

Electron Beam Effects In The Analysis Of Compound Semiconductors And Devices, Nancy Burnham, Ll Kazmerski, Ab Swartzlander, Aj Nelson, Se Asher

Nancy A. Burnham

The effects of electron beams on the analysis of CuInSe2surfaces are examined in this paper. Potential changes in the surface chemistry—including oxidation and desorption—under a range of incident probe conditions, are investigated for possible artifactual information generation. Emphasis is placed on the relationships between beam conditions and oxygen chemisorption and physisorption, since oxygen treatments of devices utilizing this semiconductor are critical to performance. Single crystals and polycrystalline thin films are analyzed and compared to establish the beam‐induced phenomena.

Electron Energy‐Loss Spectroscopy Study Of Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon, Nancy Burnham, Rf Fisher, Se Se, Ll Kazmerski

Nancy A. Burnham

Electron energy‐loss spectroscopy is used to study hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a‐Si:H). Core‐level and plasma excitations were examined as a function of hydrogen content. This technique and its interpretation reveals a consistent picture of the electron excitations within this important material. The a‐Si:H thin films were fabricated by rf sputtering. Their hydrogen concentrations ranged from 0% to 15%. Hydrogen content was determined by infrared spectroscopy and secondary ion mass spectroscopy. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and inspection of the silicon Auger‐K L L peak confirmed the silicon core levels.

Human Health Effects Assays, Ronald C. Sims, J. L. Sims, R. R. Dupont

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

Health risk assessment of individual environmental chemicals, risks of drinking water supplies, methods for evaluating toxicity, and structure-activity relationships and response-surface methodology represent the focus for 1986. A report of the Steering Committee on Identification of Toxic and Potentially Toxic Chemicals for Consideration by the National Toxicology Pro gram found that, for the majority of substances they examined, data essential for human health hazard assessment were lacking.¹ Milestone publications concerning human health effects aspects include works by Mortelmans et al,² Busch et al,³ Hartman et al,⁴ Rein,⁵ Gentile,⁶ Hodgson,⁷ and Tagashira and Omura. …

Colorimetric Assay For Methanesulfinic Acid In Biological Samples, Charles F. Babbs, Melissa J. Gale

Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

We describe a simple colorimetric method to measure 30 to 300 M concentrations of sulfinic acids in biologic samples. The procedure employs the coupling reaction of an aromatic diazonium salt (Ar-N=N+) with the sulfinic acids (RSOOH) to produce a colored diazosulfone derivative (Ar-N=N-SOOR), which can be selectively extracted into an organic solvent. Linearity and noninterference by liver homogenate, phenols, amines, and thousand-fold or greater excesses of sulfate, thiol, and dimethyl sulfoxide are demonstrated. Sensitivity of the method is about 10 nmol per sample. Because methanesulfinic acid is the principal product of the action of hydroxyl radicals upon dimethyl sulfoxide, and …

Protection From Reperfusion Injury In The Isolated Rat Heart By Postischaemic Deferoxamine And Osypurinol Administration, Stephen F. Badylak, Abby Simmons, John Turek, Charles F. Babbs

Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

The Langendorff isolated rat heart preparation was used to determine the effect of oxypurinol, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, and deferoxamine, an iron binding agent, on the extent of myocardial reperfusion injury after 60 minutes of ischaemia. Thirty rats were divided into three groups of 10. and an isolated heart preparation made from each rat. The isolated hearts were perfused for 15 minutes with a modified Krebs-Henseleit perfusate solution to permit stabilisation of the preparation. Each heart was then subjected to 60 minutes of total ischaemia at 37°C followed by 60 minutes of reperfusion with either saline treated perfusate, oxypurinol treated …

A Mathematical Model For The Fate Of Hazardous Substances In Soil: Model Description And Experimental Results, W. Greeney, C. Caupp, Ronald C. Sims

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

A mathematical model (VIP) was developed and implemented for evaluating the fate of a hazardous substance in the unsaturated zone of the soil. The model simulates vadose zone processes including volatilization, degradation, adsorption/desorption, advection, and dispersion. Four physical phases in the vadose zone are considered including water, oil, soil grains, and soil-pore air (unsaturated pore space). The Vadose Zone Interactive Processes (VIP) model is appropriate for sites under RCRA and CERCLA (Superfund) categorization since site-specific soil-waste processes affecting transport of hazardous chemicals through the vadose zone are incorporated in the model. A RCRA land treatment system was chosen as the …

The Effect Of Temperature On Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Persistence In An Unacclimated Agricultural Soil, M. P. Coover, Ronald C. Sims

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

A laboratory study was conducted to investigate the effect of temperature on the persistence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) incubated in an unacclimated agricultural sandy loam soil. Soil microcosms were spiked with 16 priority pollutant PAHs and placed in incubation chambers at 10, 20, and 30°C. Triplicate sets of microcosms at each temperature were periodically removed from incubation over the 240 day study period and solvent extracted. Concentrations of PAHs in the soil were determined by HPLC analysis of the extracts. Substantial loss of three-ring compounds was observed at all temperatures whereas there was very little apparent loss of five …

Conservation Tillage: Perceived And Actual Use, Elbert C. Dickey, Paul J. Jasa, Bryn J. Dolesh, Lisa A. Brown, S. Kay Rockwell

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

A mail survey of farmers in Nebraska showed their perceived use of conservation tillage was about 55%. However, using the 30% residue cover criterion that the Conservation Tillage Information Center uses to define conservation tillage, a field survey of seven counties in 1984 showed that actual use of conservation tillage was less than 5%. Fewer than 20% of the producers surveyed had more than 20% residue cover remaining after tillage and planting. The field survey also showed disk tillage systems were used by almost 70% of the producers. The moldboard plow was used by only 15% of the producers, thus …

Slope Length And Surface Residue Influences On Runoff And Erosion, John E. Gilley, S. C. Finkner, G. E. Varvel

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

Runoff rate, runoff velocity , sediment concentration and soil loss rate of rills or overland flow channels were measured at selected downslope distances on plots with varying rates of sorghum and soybean residue, runoff rate, runoff velocity and soil loss rate usually increased with downslope distance. In general, the presence of greater amounts of crop residue reduced sediment concentration and soil loss rate along the entire slope length. Substantial variations in runoff rate, runoff velocity, sediment concentration and soil loss rate were found with downslope distance on some residue treatments.