Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering Commons^™

Biomaterial Substrate Modifications That Influence Cell-Material Interactions To Prime Cellular Responses To Nonviral Gene Delivery, Amy Mantz, Angela K. Pannier

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Gene delivery is the transfer of exogenous genetic material into somatic cells to modify their gene expression, with applications including tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, sensors and diagnostics, and gene therapy. Viral vectors are considered the most effective system to deliver nucleic acids, yet safety concerns and many other disadvantages have resulted in investigations into an alternative option, i.e. nonviral gene delivery. Chemical nonviral gene delivery is typically accomplished by electrostatically complexing cationic lipids or polymers with negatively charged nucleic acids. Unfortunately, nonviral gene delivery suffers from low efficiency due to barriers that impede transfection success, including intracellular processes such as …

Meaningful Learner Information For Mooc Instructors Examined Through A Contextualized Evaluation Framework, Kerrie Douglas, Mitch Zielinski, Hillary Merzdorf, Heidi Diefes-Dux, Peter Bermel

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Improving STEM MOOC evaluation requires an understanding of the current state of STEM MOOC evaluation, as perceived by all stakeholders. To this end, we investigated what kinds of information STEM MOOC instructors currently use to evaluate their courses and what kinds of information they feel would be valuable for that purpose. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 14 faculty members from a variety of fields and research institutions who had taught STEM MOOCs on edX, Coursera, or Udacity. Four major themes emerged related to instructors’ desires: (1) to informally assess learners as an instructor might in a traditional classroom, (2) to …

Choosing The Proper Material To Optimize The Front Axle Of The Tractor Mf285 Using Finite Element, Razieh Pourdarbani, Javad Tarighi

Emirates Journal for Engineering Research

The tractor axle must have sufficient mechanical strength due to its dynamic and static forces during operation. Before fabrication, mechanical strength can be checked by selecting different materials through engineering software to select the most suitable material. In this paper, three types of material, namely St37, Cm45 and St52 were proposed in order to optimize the front axle of tractor MF285. The mechanical strength of each material was investigated by engineering software. Solid Work software was used for the analysis of 3D modeling of the axle and ANSYS software was used for finite element analysis. In the maximum static loading …

Scada Preventative Maintenance: Reducing The Potential Of Unexpected Failures, Kyle Feist, Zachary Markow, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Irrigation district infrastructure utilizing Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems can perform a critical service to irrigators, but also present the risk of damage to nearby property and humans in certain failure scenarios. It is therefore prudent to minimize the scope, frequency, and duration of SCADA component failure. However, it is typical for irrigation districts to focus on corrective (post-failure) SCADA maintenance activities, instead of investing in preventive maintenance.

Preventive SCADA maintenance requires budget and labor investment. However, it is anticipated that it is possible to balance the effectiveness and expenses of a preventative maintenance program with some strategic …

A Review On High Catalytic Efficiency Of Solid Acid Catalysts For Lignin Valorization, Weixiang Guan, Chi-Wing Tsang, Carol Sze Ki Lin, Christophe Len, Haoquan Hu, Changhai Liang

Faculty of Science & Technology (THEi)

It is imminent to develop renewable resources to replace fossil-derived energies as fossil resources are on the brink of exhaustion. Lignin is one of the major components of lignocellulosic biomass, which is a natural amorphous three-dimensional polymer with abundant C-O bonds and aromatic structure. Hence, valorization of lignin into high value-added liquid fuels and chemicals is regarded as a promising strategy to mitigate fossil resource shortages. Solid acid catalysts are extensively studied due to environmentally friendly in terms of the ease of separation, recovery and reduced amount of wastes. Hence, this review focuses on summarizing the recent progress of catalytic …

Separation Of Unburned Carbon From Coal Conversion Ash: Development And Assessment Of A Dry Method, Charlotte J. Badenhorst, Nicola J. Wagner, Bruno R.V. Valentim, Karel S. Viljoen, Ana C. Santos, Alexandra Guedes

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

Unburned carbon found in coal conversion ash has the potential to be used in a variety of value-added applications. However, it is first necessary to separate the unburned carbon from the rest of the ash phases. This poses challenges due to the relatively low starting carbon-in-ash values (0.4 to 7.8 wt% reported for South African sources), and the high carbon grades (ideally ∼90 wt% carbon) and recoveries that need to be achieved. In this study a dry method for the separation of unburned carbon from coal ash was developed and assessed using fly, bottom, and gasification ash samples obtained from …

Conditioning Of Velocity Profiles In Pipelines, Charles M. Burt, Pascal Hellmann, Zachary Markow

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This paper reports on the testing of a relatively simple flow conditioner for pipelines. This research found that a pipeline velocity flow conditioner that is constructed with an internal cone, having an inside diameter of 80 percent of the pipeline ID, provided the best results. It provided good velocity conditioning at a distance of two diameters downstream of an obstruction. The minor loss is equal to the velocity head of the flow in the original pipeline diameter.

Recent Advancement In Lignin Biorefinery: With Special Focus On Enzymatic Degradation And Valorization, Chong Li, Chao Chen, Xiaofen Wu, Chi-Wing Tsang, Jinhua Mou, Yun Liu, Carol Sze Ki Lin

Faculty of Science & Technology (THEi)

With the intensive development of lignocellulosic biorefineries to produce fuels and chemicals from biomass-derived carbohydrates, lignin was generated at a large quantity every year. Therefore, lignin has received increasing attention as an abundant aromatics resource in terms of research and development efforts for value-added chemicals production. In this review, studies about lignin degradation especially the crucial enzymes involved and the reaction mechanism were substantially discussed, which provided the molecular basis of lignin biodegradation. Then, the latest improvements in lignin valorization by biological methods were summarized and case studies about value-added compounds from lignin were introduced. Afterwards, challenges, opportunities and prospects …

Grain Yield, Crop And Basal Evapotranspiration, Production Functions And Water Productivity Response Of Drought-Tolerant And Non-Drought-Tolerant Maize Hybrids Under Different Irrigation Levels, Population Densities And Environments: Part Ii. In South-Central And Northeast Nebraska's Transition Zone And Sub-Humid Environments, Suat Irmak, Ali T. Mohammed, William Kranz

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Information and data on newer drought-tolerant maize hybrid response to water in different climates are extremely scarce. This research quantified the performance of non-drought-tolerant (NDT) (H1) and drought-tolerant (DT) (H2, H3, and H4) maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids response to grain yield, crop evapotranspiration (ETc), basal evapotranspiration (ETb), ETc-yield production functions (ETYPF), and crop water use efficiency (CWUE) at three irrigation levels and two plant population densities (PPDs) at two locations (transition zone between sub-humid and semiarid climates at Clay Center (SCAL), Nebraska, in 2010 and 2012; and in a sub-humid climate at Concord (HAL), Nebraska, in 2010, 2011, and …

Use Of Ponded And Fresh Ashes From China For The Production Of Portland/Calcium Sulfoaluminate Clinkers, Tristana Y. Duvallet, Robert B. Jewell, Anne E. Oberlink, Thomas L. Robl, David Harris

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

This article summarizes the use of two fly ashes in the synthesis of Portland/calcium sulfoaluminate (OPC/CSA or A/CSA) clinkers. They are from the Shentou second power plant located in the Shanxi Province and from the Zhungeer power plant located in Inner Mongolia, China. The Zhungeer ash was collected dry, and the Shentou ash is from a pond. Their chemical compositions differ highly, especially the SiO2 and Al2O3 contents. The high contents of silica and alumina make both ashes candidates as a partial or total substitute for bauxite, an expensive source of alumina, in the production of OPC/CSA clinkers. These particular …

Development And Preliminary Evaluation Of An Integrated Individual Nozzle Direct Injection And Carrier Flow Rate Control System For Pesticide Applications, Joe D. Luck, Scott A. Shearer, Michael P. Sama

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Direct injection systems for agricultural spray applications continue to present challenges in terms of commercialization and adoption by end users. Such systems have typically suffered from lag time and mixing uniformity issues, which have outweighed the potential benefits of keeping chemical and carrier separate or reducing improper tank-mixed concentration by eliminating operator measurements. The proposed system sought to combine high-pressure direct nozzle injection with an automated variable-flow nozzle to improve chemical mixing and response times. The specific objectives were to: (1) integrate a high-pressure direct nozzle injection system with variable-flow carrier control into a prototype for testing, (2) assess the …

Economic Analysis Of Deficit Irrigation In Sugarcane Farming: Nchalo Estate, Chikwawa District, Malawi, Mavuto M. Banda, Derek M. Heeren, Derrel Martin, Francisco Muñoz-Arriola, László G. Hayde

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Sustenance of the growing world population calls for increased agricultural production. However, this will have to be done while forecasts of water withdrawals on a global scale predict sharp increases in future demand to meet human needs. The inadequacy of irrigation water supplies has led to the need to consider deficit irrigation (DI) as a water saving strategy. DI is a deliberate under-application of water to growing crops.

In this study we carried out an economic analysis of DI in sugarcane farming with an aim of developing an understanding of the economic impact of various irrigation water management strategies. The …

Patellar Tendon Morphology In Trans-Tibial Amputees Utilizing A Prosthesis With A Patellar-Tendonbearing Feature, Kai-Yu Ho, Michelle Harty, Jessica Kellogg, Kelly Teter, Szu-Ping Lee, Yu-Jen Chang, Gregory Bashford

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

A patellar-tendon-bearing (PTB) bar is a common design feature used in the socket of trans-tibial prostheses to place load on the pressure-tolerant tissue. As the patellar tendon in the residual limb is subjected to the perpendicular compressive force not commonly experienced in normal tendons, it is possible for tendon degeneration to occur over time. The purpose of this study was to compare patellar tendon morphology and neovascularity between the residual and intact limbs in trans-tibial amputees and healthy controls. Fifteen unilateral trans-tibial amputees who utilized a prosthesis with a PTB feature and 15 age- and sex- matched controls participated. Sonography …

Conceptual Groundwater Remedial Alternatives At Coal Combustion Residuals Sites†, Herwig Goldemund, Jeffrey M. Ahrens

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

Groundwater below many basins that have been used to store coal combustion residuals (CCRs) may have concentrations of certain inorganic constituents in excess of applicable regulatory standards. Given that many inorganic CCR constituents are also naturally occurring in the aquifer matrix, their detection may not always be indicative of a release from the CCR unit. Inorganics may be present at elevated levels in groundwater due to natural or background conditions, or due to changes to the aquifer geochemistry resulting from the presence of the CCR basin, which then mobilizes these naturally occurring constituents beneath the CCR unit. Care must be …

Fly Ash Composites, A Step Toward Pond Ash Composites, Kunigal N. Shivakumar, Wade H. Brown, Kazi A. Imran

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

The study demonstrated that ash composites made from polyurethane and fly ash are able to reduce leaching of coal ash inorganics to less than one-third of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s maximum containment limit even after being exposed to an accelerated water circulation system for 14 months. Even if these ash blocks are broken, the composite is safe. The concept of encapsulation of fly ash into ash composite by using a polar polymer to bind the fine inorganic particles, as nature has done in the original unburned coal, makes the ash composite safe. The ash composites have compression and f …

In Situ Characterization Of Mixture Of Fly Ash And Fluidized Gas Desulfurization By-Product At Tennessee Valley Authority’S Gallatin Ash Stacking Facility†, David J. White, Pavana Vennapusa, Brendan Fitzpatrick, Jason F. Hill, Nicholas Mcclung

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

This article presents the results of field and laboratory testing performed on a new coal combustion product (CCP) derived from a mixture of fly ash and dry fluidized gas desulfurization by-product at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Gallatin Fossil Plant in Gallatin, TN. Field testing included geospatial mapping using a vibratory smooth drum roller instrumented with a validated intelligent compaction (VIC) system and by field testing to characterize elastic modulus, shallow shear wave velocity, moisture content, dry density, and shear strength properties. Field testing was performed in areas where the CCP had been placed several days before testing and in areas …

Managing Springs Emanating From Coal Combustion Residual Disposal Impoundments, Mark L. Orzechowski, Daniel M. Tolmer

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

Affected springs emanating from coal combustion residual (CCR) disposal impoundments where “wet disposal” methods were employed is a typical issue that frequently needs to be addressed during operation and management of these facilities. Identifying potential effects on a spring is typically accomplished through regularly scheduled field reconnaissance and laboratory analyses. Analytical testing is performed to characterize the chemical constituents present in the spring water. The management approach employed for specific springs is developed on the basis of several factors, including chemical composition and flow rate of the spring water, regulatory requirements and discharge standards, available treatment technologies, facility operations, site …

Shear Strength Of Coal Combustion Product By Vane Shear, Wesley J. Herweynen, Christopher A. Bareither, Joseph Scalia

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

The objective of this study was to evaluate the shear strength of a coal combustion product (CCP) by using the vane shear test. A series of small-scale vane shear (SS-VS; diameter = 12.7 mm and height = 25.4 mm) and large-scale vane shear (LS-VS; diameter = 25 mm and height = 50 mm) laboratory tests were conducted. Undrained and drained strength envelopes were determined using consolidated undrained triaxial compression tests, and drained strength was checked via consolidated drained direct shear. In addition, effects of (1) rate of vane rotation, (2) time delay between vane insertion and beginning rotation, and (3) …

Mineralogy And Geochemistry Of Feed Coals And Combustion Residues From Tunçbilek And Seyitömer Coal-Fired Power Plants In Western Turkey, Ali Ihsan Karayigit, Ozlem Yigitler, Seda Iserli, Xavier Querol, Maria Mastalerz, Riza Gorkem Oskay, James C. Hower

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

This study focuses on the enrichment of elements in feed coal (FC) and combustion residues, namely, fly ash (FA) and bottom ash (BA) samples, picked up from the Tunçbilek and Seyitömer coal-fired power plants in western Turkey. The FCs in both plants have generally similar mineralogical compositions, although siderite and dolomite are more prominent in Tunçbilek and feldspar and pyrite are more abundant in Seyitömer. Minerals in the FA from both power plants are mainly quartz, hematite, magnetite, anhydrite, and mullite. Along with quartz, the Fe-oxides are dominant phases in the BA samples. Accessory minerals in the FCs, FAs, and …

Phaselous Vulgaris Growth Under The Influence Of Manufactured Coal Ash Aggregates, Sangchul Hwang, Imiraily Hernandez, Isomar Latorre, Sahid Rosado

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

Manufactured coal ash aggregates (MAs) are a 2:1 (w/w) solidified composite of fly and bottom ash. The current study assessed the feasibility of beneficial utilization of MAs as a subsoil substitute for open-pit restoration to phyto-viable land. A series of indoor and outdoor experiments examined Phaselous vulgaris growth under the influence of MAs in the soil environment. With the MAs layer below the topsoil, P. vulgaris showed enhanced growth with respect to shoot height, leaf number, and leaf chlorophyll intensity. Similar growth enhancement was observed when the MAs were mixed with topsoil or applied as a micronutrient source over the …