Digital Commons Network^™

Bioactivities Of A Tumour Necrosis Like Factor Released By Chicken Macrophages, Silke Rautenschlein, Anuradha Subramanian, Jagdev M. Sharma

Papers in Biotechnology

To test for tumour necrosis-like factor (TNF) of chickens, supernatants of a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated chicken macrophage cell line MQ-NCSU were analysed. A sequence of ion-exchange and gel-permeation chromatography was utilised to isolate TNF-like activity from the culture supernatant. The peak of TNF-like cytotoxic activity corresponded to the fractions with a nlolecular weight of 81 kDa or higher. Polyclonal anti-human TNF-a antiserum cross-reacted by Western blotting with a 17 kDa protein in the TNF-containing fraction ~ ~ n d e denaturing conditions. This result indicated that chicken TNF-like factor in the biologically active form may be a protein multimer of monomers …

Genetic Transformation And Regeneration Of Plants, Vincent Lee C. Chiang, Chung-Jui Tsai, Gopi K. Podila

Michigan Tech Patents

An Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and regeneration method for plants including a transformation method to produce transgenic plants with an altered lignin composition.

Design And Performance Characterization Of Simultaneous Reflectance And Surface-Mapping Laser Scanner For Application In Underwater Inspection, Frank M. Caimi, Donna M. Kocak, Coy Colquitt

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications

Considerable advancements have been made in undersea imaging over the past decade enabling long-range detection and observation of underwater objects in clear and turbid (cloudy) water. The image transfer characteristics of the medium (i.e. scattering and absorption) have been primary obstacles in developing high performance systems. However, the application of lasers to the imaging formation process is currently providing a means for acquiring long-range images, over 5-6 attenuation lengths in comparison to 1 -2 attenuation lengths for more conventional methods. In addition, laser technology is now offering the promise of systems capable of forming range maps and depth resolved images. …

Assessment And Modeling Of Stream Mitigation Procedures, Bobby W. Meade, Bernadette Dupont, Sudhir Palle, Theodore Hopwood Ii

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This study evaluates the construction and performance of KyDOH stream disturbance mitigation projects. The initial study tasks were to conduct a literature search, review of stream performance models, a review of Kentucky's and other agency's regulations pertaining to stream mitigation, identification of representative stream mitigation projects, and evaluation of those sites. Th results of this study will produce a tool for evaluating stream mitigation projects after they are constructed.

Impulse, Robin Eh. Bagley, Rod Thormodsgaard, Lisa Umiker

Impulse (Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering Publication)

Features:
[Page 2] Undergraduate research: a unique opportunity
[Page 3] Brown lectures in Japan
[Page 4] Galipeau named Researcher of the Year
[Page 5] Come-home companies
College:
[Page 6] Sander bids farewell to College
[Page 7] Sander named South Dakota Engineer of the Year
[Page 8] Three faculty members retire
[Page 9] Distinguished Engineers honored at banquet
[Page 10] Engineering Resource Center provides outreach services
[Page 11] Company developing Crothers bid criteria
Faculty:
[Page 12] Entrepreneur of Year enjoys phonathon work
[Page 13] Burckhard conducts practical research
[Page 14] SDSU to have fir t astronomical research facility in the state …

The Effect Of Stimulus Current Pulse Width On Nerve Fiber Size Recruitment Patterns, Robert B. Szlavik, Hubert De Bruin

Biomedical Engineering

There have been theoretical studies presented that postulate a change in the stimulus current amplitude required to recruit nerve fibers with different stimulus current pulse widths. Based on these theoretical predictions, it has been suggested that the stimulus pulse width parameter may be used to selectively recruit fibers of different sizes and that this selectivity should increase with increasing distance from the stimulus electrode. In this paper, a simulation study of the recruitment patterns of a population of motor nerve fibers with a histologically accurate fiber diameter distribution is presented. Nerve fiber excitation simulations coupled with a time varying field …

Phosphorus And Nitrogen In Runoff Following Beef Cattle Manure Of Compost Application, Bahman Eghball, John E. Gilley

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Manure or compost from beef cattle feedlots can be an excellent sources of nutrients and organic matter when added to soils, but they can also pollute runoff. We determined the effects of simulated rainfall on runoff losses of P and N, and EC and pH following application of manure and compost to a Sharpsburg silty clay loam (fine smectitic, mesic Typic Argiudoll) soil having grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) residues. Manure, compost, and fertilizer were applied to no-till fields at rates required to meet N or P requirements for corn ( …

Evolving Neural Networks Applied To Predator-Evader Problem, Shivakumar Viswanathan, Ilker Ersoy, Filiz Bunyak, Cihan H. Dagli

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

The creation of strategies to meet abstract goals is an important behavior exhibited by natural organisms. A situation requiring the development of such strategies is the predator-evader problem. To study this problem, Khepera robots are chosen as the competing agents. Using computer simulations the evolution of the adaptive behavior is studied in a predator-evader interaction. A bilaterally symmetrical multilayer perceptron neural network architecture with evolvable weights is used to model the “brains” of the agents. Evolutionary programming is employed to evolve the predator for developing adaptive strategies to meet its goals. To study the effect of learning on evolution a …

Considerations For Estimating Remote Operator Dust Exposure Using Fixed-Point Samples On Continuous Mining Sections, Jeffrey M. Listak, Gerrit V. R. Goodman, Robert A. Jankowski

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

Respirable dust studies were conducted at several underground coal mining operations to evaluate and compare the dust measurements of fixed-point machine-mounted samples on a continuous miner and personal samples of the remote miner operator. Fixed-point sampling was conducted at the right rear corner of the continuous miner which corresponded to the traditional location of the operator's cab. Although it has been documented that higher concentrations of dust are present at the machine-mounted position, this work sought to determined whether a relationship exists between the concentrations at the fixed-point position and the dust levels experienced at the remote operator position and …

Laboratory Evaluation Of Pressure Differential Based Respirable Dust Detector Tube, Jon C. Volkwein, April L. Schoeneman, Steven J. Page

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

A new type of respirable dust sampler was developed and compared side by side to personal gravimetric samplers in the laboratory. The new sampler correlates filter back pressure with mass accumulation to provide mid-shift and end-of-shift determinations of cumulative exposure. The sampler uses a small low flow rate pump to draw dust through a small detector tube that contains a porous urethane foam respirable classification section and glass fiber filter that collects respirable dust. Six different coal dusts were aerosolized in a laboratory dust chamber and a total of 118 triplicate observations were obtained. For individual coal types, the correlation …

The Effects Of A Diesel Particulate Filter And Fuel Borne Catalyst On Engine Emissions, Mahé Gangal, Thierry Leprince, John Muter, Brent Rubeli

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

CANMET has been involved in an industry-government program to assess the quality of mine air and to improve the working environment. One aspect of the program is to reduce diesel particulate matter (DPM) generated by heavy-duty diesel vehicles having low exhaust temperature duty cycles. The low exhaust gas temperatures that are common in modem engines lead to insufficient regeneration of diesel particulate filters (DPF). A study was undertaken in partnership with DCL International to examine additive assisted regeneration. This study uses a cerium based fuel-borne catalyst to complete the regeneration of a DPF. Regeneration of a DPF occurs when the …

Ventilation Optimization — Balancing The Need For More Power Against Environmental Concerns, Stephen G. Hardcastle, R. D. Lamond, D. T. Willoughby

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

This paper shows how the Nanisivik mine was able to improve the underground working environment, decrease operational costs, and reduce its impact on the environment through optimizing their ventilation system. Through re-organizing their ventilation system, the overall flow through the mine increased by at least 20%, and local flows increased by over 100%. This change also resulted in a 45% reduction of fan motor power. And as a consequence of reduced power demands the mine has decreased its Green-house gas (GHG) emissions. Currently, ventilation is typically responsible for 40% of a Canadian mine's underground electrical consumption. This could dramatically change …

Modelling Of The Occurrence Of Hydrogen Sulphide In Coal Seams, A. D. Stewart Gillies, Mehmet S. Kizil, Hsin Wei Wu, Timothy J. M. Harvey

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

Hydrogen Sulphide (H₂S) has been encountered within a number of Bowen Basin collieries, Central Queensland, Australia. High concentration occurrence during mining of a longwall panel raises a number of potential problems, which demand greater understanding to allow efficient mining while maintaining safe and healthy environmental conditions. Longwall panels at Mine A and Mine B have recently mined through H₂S zones. The high H₂S zone mined through at Mine A was wide and covering the whole length of the face comparing to the narrow H₂S zone which was cutting the panel at 45° …

Niosh/Nci Study Of Exposure To Diesel Exhaust In Underground Mines — An Industry Perspective, Christopher J. Pritchard

U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium

In 1992, the National Institute For Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) initiated a study, funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), to evaluate the health effects, if any, involving underground miners exposure to diesel exhaust. An industry organization, the Methane Awareness Research Group (MARG) already in place to respond to gassy mine related issues, was redirected to work with diesel concerns. In 1995, NIOSH released a draft protocol and feasibility assessment, indicating its intent to initiate s study at 14 underground mines, some of which were operated by MARG members. After considerable debate on the study protocol, in-mine industrial hygiene …

Intellicranes – A Neural Network-Based Crane Selection System, André T. Mund

Masters Theses

Due to the central role of cranes in construction operations, specialists in the construction industries have cooperated in the development of structured methods and software for crane selection. Most of these software tools are for crane model selection and query the user for the type of crane to be used. Although research produced some fuzzy logic and expert system-based methods for crane type selection, no integrated systems that handle both crane selection phases are available.

IntelliCranes, a prototype integrated crane selection tool, assists in both crane type and crane model selection based on a set of inputs describing the construction …

Biodegradation Of Thermoplastic And Hermosetting Polyesters From Z-Protected Glutamic Acid, R M. Tadros, Hossein Noureddini, Delmar C. Timm

Papers in Biomolecular Engineering

In a previous article,1 the development and molecular characterization of three polyesters from N-carbobenzyloxy-L-glutamic acid (ZGluOH) were reported. The polymers were a linear, heterochain polyester (ZGluOH and ethylene glycol), a crosslinked heterochain polyester (ZGluOH and diglycidyl ether of 1,4-butanediol), and a crosslinked, heterochain aromatic polyester (ZGluOH and diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A). In this manuscript, results of biodegradation studies are reported. The three polymers hydrolyzed to low molecular weight oligomers similar to the monomers with lipase. When exposed to a mixed culture of micro-organisms, the first two resins degraded to biomass and respiratory gases. The crosslinked heterochain aromatic polyester resisted …

Parallel Digital Signal Processing On A Network Of Personal Computers Case Study: Space-Time Adaptive Processing, Fernando Silva

Theses and Dissertations

Network based parallel computing using personal computers is currently a popular choice for concurrent scientific computing. This work evaluates the capabilities and the performance of the AFIT Bimodal Cluster (ABC); a heterogeneous cluster of PCs connected by switched fast Ethernet and using MPICH 1.1 for interprocess communication for parallel digital signal processing using Space Time Adaptive Processing (STAP) as the case study. The MITRE RT_STAP Benchmark version 1.1 is ported and executed on the ABC, as well as on a cluster of six Sun SPARC workstations connected by a Myrinet network (the AFIT NOW), and on a IBM SP for …

Long Term Risks Associated With Brownfield Containments, Shailesh Shirish Chirputkar

Dissertations

The sites at which the development is hindered by real or perceived contamination are called as Brownfield sites. It is a common trend in industry to develop these types of sites with surface and peripheral containments. It might prove unwise to develop the sites in this manner from a long term perspective without considering the associated risk. Because of this, a model has been proposed for long term risk assessments of brownfield containments.

Objectives of this study were to develop a contaminant transport model for flow of contaminants towards the surface and peripheral containments inside the site, a model for …

Coagulation And Disinfection By-Products Formation Potential Of Dissolved Organic Matter Fractions, Neeraj S. Pipada

Theses

Both the proposed United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Disinfectants- Disinfection By-Products and Enhanced Surface Water Treatment rules have provisions for minimizing the formation of undesirable precursors of disinfection by-products (DBPs) in drinking water Natural Organic Matter (NOM) contains many of the precursors to the DBPs formed following disinfection of drinking water. DAX-8 resin procedures were used to isolate and fractionate NOM into six dissolved organic matter (DOM) fractions; Hydrophobic acid (FA), base (FB), neutral (FN), and hydrophilic acid (PA), base (PB) and neutral (PN). Aluminum sulfate (alum) jar coagulation tests were performed to determine the optimum coagulation ranges of …

Effect Of Postural Tilt On The Autonomic Nervous System In Gulf War Veterans, Shrenik Dagli

Theses

Time-frequency signal representations characterize signals over a joint time-frequency plane. They combine time-domain and frequency-domain analysis to yield a potentially more revealing picture of the temporal localization of a signal spectrum. Time-frequency distributions (TFDS) of signals map a one-dimensional function of time, x (t), into a two-dimensional function of time and frequency, p(t, f). Most TFDs are "time-varying representations' which are similar conceptually to a musical score with time running along one axis and frequency along the other axis.

Many Gulf War Veterans complained of symptoms like unexplainable tiredness. This condition is known as the Gulf War Syndrome. The purpose …

Ultrasound To Decontaminate Organics In Dredged Sediments, Kanya Veerawat

Theses

In this research, it was attempted to decontaminate and separate dredged sediments contaminated with organic compounds by the application of ultrasound energy coupled with sub-atmospheric pressures. The decontamination and separation of contaminated sediments was achieved by integrated two processes. For Process 1, ultrasound energy was used to decontaminate the sandy fraction in dredged sediments, and sub-atmospheric pressure was used to separate and remove fines. For Process 2, ultrasound was again used to decontaminate fines with bulk fluid, and sub-atmospheric pressure was used to remove the contaminants with water. Process 1 was evaluated and found to have four variables contributing to …

Oxidation And Adsorption Of Deoxyribonucleic Acid At Highly Ordered Pyrolytic Graphite And Glass Carbon Electrode, Jian-Zhang Zhou, Ling-Ling Wu, Jin Luo, Zhong-Hua Lin

Journal of Electrochemistry

It is shown that calf thymus DNA (CT DNA) can be adsorbed at highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) electrode and detected by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and electrochemical atomic force microscopy (ECAFM). It is found that controlled potential pre-polarization influences largely the adsorption of dsDNA while it has little influence on ssDNA. It is demonstrated that ECAFM is useful to exploit adsorption of DNA at HOPGE. The pattern of adsorption of DNA at HOPG electrode that fits best with the experimental data is proposed. The results aslo shows that UV/Vis reflection spectroscopy, which has not been used in studying electrochemical …

Membrane Process For Biological Treatment Of Contaminated Gas Streams, Sarina J. Ergas, Leslee Shumway, Mark W. Fitch, Jeffrey J. Neemann

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A Hollow Fiber Membrane Bioreactor Was Investigated for Control of Air Emissions of Biodegradable Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). in the Membrane Bioreactor, Gases Containing VOCs Pass through the Lumen of Microporous Hydrophobic Hollow Fiber Membranes. Soluble Compounds Diffuse through the Membrane Pores and Partition into a VOC Degrading Biofilm. the Hollow Fiber Membranes Serve as a Support for the Microbial Population and Provide a Large Surface Area for VOC and Oxygen Mass Transfer. Experiments Were Performed to Investigate the Effects of Toluene Loading Rate, Gas Residence Time, and Liquid Phase Turbulence on Toluene Removal in a Laboratory-Scale Membrane Bioreactor. Initial …

Santa Clara Magazine, Volume 41 Number 1, May 1999, Santa Clara University

Santa Clara Magazine

8 - A BRIDGE BETWEEN WORLDS By President PaulL. Locatelli, S.J. 'Go. President Locatelli examines the value of service learning for students, the University, and America's social fabric.

12 - A GIANT ARTIST By Ann Granning Bennett. Auguste Rodin's sculptures are now on view at the de Saisset Museum. The question is: How do high-profile art shows like this one come about?

18 - ARIZONA'S DIPLOMATIC TOP COP By Tamara Straus. Janet Napolitano ' 79 , Arizona's newly elected attorney general , discusses the challenges of public office as well as politics, ethics, and fighting crime.

The Use Of Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 (Rhbmp-2) To Promote Spinal Fusion In A Nonhuman Primate Anterior Interbody Fusion Model, Brian P. Hecht, Jeffrey S. Fischgrund, Harry N. Harkowitz, Lori Penman, Jeffrey M. Toth, Ali Shirkhoda

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Study Design. A study on the efficacy of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2) in a nonhuman primate anterior interbody fusion model.

Objectives. To investigate the efficacy of rhBMP-2 with an absorbable collagen sponge carrier to promote spinal fusion in a nonhuman primate anterior interbody fusion model.

Summary of Background Data. RhBMP-2 is an osteoinductive growth factor capable of inducing new bone formation in vivo. Although dosage studies using rhBMP-2 have been performed on species of lower phylogenetic level, they cannot be extrapolated to the primate. Dosage studies on nonhuman primates are essential before proceeding with human primate application. …

Interval Matching And Control For Hexahedral Mesh Generation Of Swept Volumes, Jason F. Shepherd

Theses and Dissertations

Surface meshing algorithms require certain relationships among the number of intervals on the curves that bound the surface. Assigning the number of intervals to all of the curves in the model such that all relationships are satisfied is called interval assignment. Volume meshing algorithms also require certain relationships among the numbers of intervals on each of the curves on the volume. These relationships are not always captured by surface meshing requirements. This thesis presents a news technique for automatically identifying volume constraints. In this technique, volume constraints are grouped with surface constraints and are solved simultaneously. A sweepable volume has …

Mar 1999, Tractor Museum

Lester F. Larsen Tractor Museum: Planning and Development Documents

Additional Funds Donation to Camp Creek Threshers Renovation Status

Genetic Engineering Of Wood Color In Plants, Vincent Lee C. Chiang, Chung-Jui Tsai, Gopi K. Podila

Michigan Tech Patents

The invention relates to genetically engineering the wood color of woody plants by incorporation of the lignin pathway gene O-methyltransferase into the genome of the plants.

Discrimination Of Volcano Activity And Mountain-Associated Waves Using Infrasonic Data And A Backpropagation Neural Network, Fredric M. Ham, Thomas A. Leeney, Heather M. Canady, Joseph C. Wheeler

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications

An integral part of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty monitoring is an international infrasonic monitoring network that is capable of detecting and verifying nuclear explosions. Reliable detection of such events must be made from data that may contain other sources of infrasonic phenomena. Infrasonic waves can also result from volcanic eruptions, mountain associated waves, auroral waves, earthquakes, meteors, avalanches, severe weather, quarry blasting, high-speed aircraft, gravity waves, and microbaroms. This paper shows that a feedforward multi-layer neural network discriminator, trained by backpropagation, is capable of distinguishing between two unique infrasonic events recorded from single station recordings with a relatively …

Implant Pre-Treated For Reducing The Generation Of Wear Particulates, David A. Pienkowski, Kwon-Yong Lee

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Patents

A method is provided for reducing the amount of wear particulates generated by a total joint orthopaedic implant. The implant consists of two matched articulating components wherein at least one of the components is made of polymer or other material with similar physical properties. The method includes the steps of placing the total joint orthopaedic implant in a fluid bath and articulating the implant in the fluid bath for at least 1,000 cycles. The articulation may be performed in three stages. In the first, the implant is articulated under a load of substantially 0.1-500 Newtons with sliding speeds of substantially …