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Activated Carbon Filters, Joseph L. Taraba, Linda Heaton, Tom Ilvento

Agricultural Engineering Extension Updates

Many people feel the water supplied by public water systems to their home faucets is not safe. Most people judge the quality of their water by taste, odor and appearance. But the risk to one's health cannot be judged by these factors. Many of the chemicals or biological organisms that affect one's health are tasteless, odorless and cannot be seen. In searching for a means to improve the safety to their drinking water they encounter water filters, water purifiers, activated carbon (AC) filters that are common names for home drinking water treatment devices. In reading the labels, boxes and instructions …

Automatic Color Segmentation Of Images With Application To Detection Of Variegated Coloring In Skin Tumors, Scott E. Umbaugh, Randy Hays Moss, William V. Stoecker

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A description is given of a computer vision system, developed to serve as the front-end of a medical expert system, that automates visual feature identification for skin tumor evaluation. The general approach is to create different software modules that detect the presence or absence of critical features. Image analysis with artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, such as the use of heuristics incorporated into image processing algorithms, is the primary approach. On a broad scale, this research addressed the problem of segmentation of a digital image based on color information. The algorithm that was developed to segment the image strictly on the …

Nebraska Summary: S075 Case-Ih 5120, Nebraska Tractor Test Lab

Nebraska Tractor Tests

ABOUT THE TEST REPORT AND USE OF THE DATA The test data contained in this report are a tabulation of the results of a series of tests. Due to the restricted format of these pages, only a limited amount of data and not all of the tractor specifications are included. The full OECD report contains usually about 30 pages of data and specifications. The test data were obtained for each tractor under similar conditions and therefore, provide a means of comparison of performance based on a limited set of reported data. EXPLANATION OF THE TEST PROCEDURES Purpose The purpose of …

Nebraska Summary: S074 Case-Ih 1896, Nebraska Tractor Test Lab

Nebraska Tractor Tests

ABOUT THE TEST REPORT AND USE OF THE DATA The test data contained in this report are a tabulation of the results of a series of tests. Due to the restricted format of these pages, only a limited amount of data and not all of the tractor specifications are included. The full OECD report contains usually about 30 pages of data and specifications. The test data were obtained for each tractor under similar conditions and therefore, provide a means of comparison of performance based on a limited set of reported data. EXPLANATION OF THE TEST PROCEDURES Purpose The purpose of …

Nebraska Summary: S072 Massey Ferguson 3680, Nebraska Tractor Test Lab

Nebraska Tractor Tests

ABOUT THE TEST REPORT AND USE OF THE DATA The test data contained in this report are a tabulation of the results of a series of tests. Due to the restricted format of these pages, only a limited amount of data and not all of the tractor specifications are included. The full OECD report contains usually about 30 pages of data and specifications. The test data were obtained for each tractor under similar conditions and therefore, provide a means of comparison of performance based on a limited set of reported data. EXPLANATION OF THE TEST PROCEDURES Purpose The purpose of …

Performance And Design Of Vegetative Filters For Feedlot Runoff Treatment, Elbert C. Dickey, D. H. Vanderholm

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Installation of a zero-discharge, runoff-control system is one method for solving potential water pollution problems from many feedlot operations. Even though the zero-discharge system is required by regulation in several states, this approach may be economically prohibitive for many small operations. An alternative is to install a vegetative filter system to adequately control the runoff so that violations of water quality standards will not occur during storm runoff. Vegetative filters are systems in which a vegetative area such as pasture, grassed waterways, or even cropland is used for treating feedlot runoff by settling, filtration, dilution, adsorption of pollutants and infiltration. …

Scatchard Analysis Of Methane Sulfinic Acid Production From Dimethyl Sulfoxide: A Method To Quantify Hydroxyl Radical Formation In Physiologic Systems, Charles F. Babbs, David W. Griffin

Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

A major impediment to the confirmation of free radical mechanisms in pathogenesis is a lack of direct, chemical evidence that oxygen centered free radicals actually arise in living tissues in quantities sufficient to cause serious damage. This investigation was conducted to validate the use of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a quantitative molecular probe for the generation of hydroxyl radicals (HO*) under physiologic conditions. Reaction of HO* with DMSO produces methane sulfinic acid (MSA) as a primary product, which can be detected by a simple colorimetric assay. To develop a method for estimating total HO* production, we studied two model systems: …

Quantitative Effects Of Iron Chelators On Hydroxyl Radical Production By The Superoxide-Driven Fenton Raction, Jean Blair Smith, Joanne C. Cusumano, Charles F. Babbs

Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Iron bound to certain chelators is known to promote the conversion of superoxide radicals (O2) to hydroxyl radicals (HO') by the superoxide-driven Fenton reaction. The production of HO' by various iron chelates was studied using the reaction of dimethyl sulfoxide and HO' to produce methane sulphinic acid. Methane sulphinic acid was quantified by use of a simple colorimetric assay and used to determine the amounts of HO' produced. Superoxide was generated from 200 M hypoxanthine and 0.05 U/ml xanthine oxidase in the presence of 0-100 M iron and 100 M of each chelator. The results of this preliminary investigation illustrate …

Effect Of Oxygen Concentration On The Formation Of Malondialdehyde-Like Material In A Model Of Tissue Ischemia And Reoxygenation, Steven C. Salaris, Charles F. Babbs

Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

This study was conducted to explore the functional relationship between oxygen concentration during tissue reoxygenation after ischemia and the extent of postischemic lipid peroxidation, an indicator of reoxygenation injury. Excised rat liver or kidney tissue was rendered ischemic for 1 h at 37°C, minced into 1 mm3 fragments, and then reoxygenated for 1 h in flasks of buffered salt solution containing various amounts of oxygen. Production of malondialdehyde-like material (MDA) was measured to indicate lipid peroxidation. MDA production was minimal at oxygen tensions less than 10 mmHg, increased sharply from 10 to 50 mmHg, and plateaued at approximately 100 mmHg. …

Lethal Hydroxyl Radical Production In Paraquat-Treated Plants, Charles F. Babbs, Jo Ann Pham, Ronald C. Coolbaugh

Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Bipyridinium herbicides, including paraquat and diquat, are believed to act by generating highly reactive, oxygen-centered free radicals within chloroplasts when treated plants are exposed to sunlight. This hypothesis has not yet been confirmed by direct chemical measurements of specific free radicals. We studied paraquat-treated plants using a new method able to detect and quantify formation of highly reactive and deleterious hydroxyl radicals (HO*), in which dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is used as a molecular probe. DMSO is oxidized by HO* to form the stable, nonradical compound, methane sulfinic acid, which can be easily extracted from plant tissue and measured spectrophotometrically. Initial …

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

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty 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 …

Germ Weight, Germ Oil Content, And Estimated Oil Yield For Wet-Milled Yellow Dent Corn As Affected By Moisture Content At Harvest And Temperature Of Drying Air, Curtis L. Weller, Marvin R. Paulsen, Stephen Mbuvi

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

A split-plot experimental design was used to determine the effect of moisture content at harvest and temperature of drying air on weight, oil content, and estimated oil yield of corn germs recovered from laboratory wet milling. The effects were determined for a high-yielding hybrid of yellow dent corn widely grown in the corn belt that was hand-picked and hand-shelled. Germ oil content decreased significantly as moisture content at harvest and temperature of drying air increased. Germ weight and estimated oil yield generally decreased as both moisture content at harvest and temperature of drying air increased from 17.2 to 29.6% and …

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

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty 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, …

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

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty 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 …

Adsorption Of Organic Compounds By Microbial Biomass, Ariamalar Selvakumar

Dissertations

The adsorption of hazardous organic compounds such as phenol, 2-chlorophenol, 2-nitrophenol, chlorobenzene, and ethylbenzene onto two types of inactive microbial biomass (activated sludge and nitrifying bacteria) was studied. The adsorption isotherms could be expressed by the Freundlich adsorption isotherm and were found to be nearly linear over the range of concentrations (50 - 200 mg/1) studied. Desorption studies showed that the adsorption process was partially reversible. Heat of sorption was estimated and indicate that the biosorption process involves a physical rather than a chemical mechanism. The adsorptive capacity of biomass is about two to three orders of magnitude less than …

A Dynamic Model Of Fill-And-Draw Reactor Utilizing An Inhibitory Substrate, Yun-Fei Ko

Theses

A dynamic model of a fill-and-draw reactor has been developed, which includes a number of operational parameters, the fraction of total cycle time devoted to fill, reaction and draw, and the concentration of the toxic substance in the feed to the reactor.

Operating diagrams have been generated, from which one can choose suitable operating parameters.

The model has been solved numerically for Andrews kinetics ( substrate inhibition ), and tested experimentally, using a 5-liter fill-and-draw reactor with phenol as sole carbon source and a pure culture of Pseudomonas putida. Results compared very well to the model predictions.

Degradation Of Dichloromethane, Trichloromethane & Carbon Tetrachloride In A Photoreactor, Sanjay Wadhwa

Theses

A SS 304 photoreactor has been designed to study the degradation of EPA priority pollutants. This newly designed system was used to study the kinetics of degradation of dichloromethane, trichloromethane and carbon tetrachloride under O₂/UV, O₃/O₂/UV and H₂O₂/UV schemes. These compounds have been found to exhibit similar kinetics. The experimental data obtained was. analyzed for pollutant concentration using gas chromatography. The rate constants and mass transfer coefficients were found using a mathematical model to fit the experimental data. A computer program based on the Rosenbrock Hillclimb method in conjunction with …

Co-Metabolism Of Pentachlorophenol With Glucose Using Two-Stage Anaerobic Activated Carbon Fluidized Beds, Zen Wang

Theses

Abstract - Detoxification of pentachlorophenol by using a two-stage anaerobic biological activated carbon fluidized bed has been investigated. Glucose was introduced as a cosubstrate to determine the relationship between the glucose/PCP ratio and the extent of PCP detoxification in such a system. This system has been proved to be effective in the removal of both PCP and COD. Ratio of glucose to PCP predominates the performance of the system throughout the whole course of this experiment. At a glucose/PCP ratio of 0.33, the system has a highest reduction of both PCP and COD. Addition of glucose to the highly PCP …

Decontamination Of Contaminated Clay Soils By Thermal Treatment, Chandrakanthi Weerasinghe

Theses

An experimental investigation on the desorption of contaminated clay soils by thermal treatment was performed. This study was carried out on two clay soils (kaolinite and bentonite) sorbed with three liquid organic compounds (phenol, chlorophenol, and chlorobenzene). The study consists of two different phases, the adsorption and desorption. The results on batch equilibrium adsorption were correlated with different isotherm models of which the Freundlich isotherm model was found to be best fit in predicting adsorption capacities of kaolinite, and that for bentonite was found to be the linear isotherm model.

A thermal desorption study followed the equilibrium adsorption study. A …

Respiratory Impedances Computed From The Forced Oscillation Technique Using An Esophageal Balloon, Richard Thomas Fisler

Theses

The purpose of this investigation is to develop methodology for the standard measurement and physiological interpretation of lung resistance and compliance using non-invasive forced oscillations techniques and validating these results with standardized esophageal balloon techniques. Application of the forced oscillation technique with an esophageal balloon in place permits partitioning of the respiratory system into the pulmonary system which is of primary interest and the less clinically important chestwall system. Diseased lung states are induced in normal subjects by inhalation of a bronchoconstrictor. The total respiratory (pulmonary plus chest wall) and pulmonary impedances are interpreted using both a linear three element …

The Evaluation Of The Impact Of Reducing The Domestic Wastewater Phosphorus On The Algal-Related Water Quality Of The Hudson/Raritan Estuary And Northern New Jersey's Coastal Waters, Ron Gautreau

Theses

An investigation was undertaken to examine the planktonic algal-related water quality of the Hudson/Raritan Estuary and northern New Jersey's coastal waters with respect to quantifying the relationship between the amount of phosphorus loading to the planktonic algal-related water quality responses. Recreational and commercial uses of northern New Jersey's coastal waters have at times been impaired by excessive growth of planktonic algae. Using population equivalents and export coefficients the amount of domestic wastewater and land runoff derived phosphoruscontributed to the Estuary was estimated. The P load contributed to the Estuary via the discharge of New York and New Jersey domestic wastewater …

Unsaturated Column Studies Of Silty Sand Using A Conservative Tracer, Canagasabapathy Nallianathan

Theses

A laboratory study was conducted to investigate the flow and mass transport of a conservative tracer in the unsaturated phase. For this purpose, a relatively "large-scale" cylindrical column(12 in. O.D. x 4 feet long) was fabricated and equipped with tensiometer and psychrometer sensors.

The soil used in the study was a New Jersey based silty sand compacted to an average dry density of 93 lb/ft³. The soil was permeated with a 0.5 M NaCl solution infiltrated at the top of the column using a perforated spiral tube assembly. The permeant was applied at a constant rate of approximately …

Anaerobic Biodegradation Of Trichloroethylene By Activated Carbon Fluidized-Bed, Jiunn-Horng Chern

Theses

The synthetic wastewater containing trichloroethylene (TCE) was anaerobically degraded with glucose using activated carbon fluidized-bed.

The range of TCE concentration from 26 ppb to 10.8 ppm was examined. The ratio of glucose to TCE in the influent wastewater was ranged from 26 to 805, while the TCE loading ranged from 0.025 to 1.510 mg/hr-L.

The TCE removal efficiency under these treatment conditions was found to be of 99.4%. However, the reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD) decreased when the TCE loadings was over 0.38 mg/hr-L.

Glass Microspheres, D. E. Day, Gary J. Ehrhardt

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A radioactive microsphere for radiation therapy of a mammal comprising a biologically compatible glass material containing a beta or gamma emitting radioisotope distributed substantially uniformly throughout the glass. Advantageously, the radioisotope is produced by irradiation of the microsphere.

Santa Clara Magazine, Volume 31 Number 1, Fall 1988, Santa Clara University

Santa Clara Magazine

12 - MY CHINA YEAR Cathy Morrissey '85 guides us through her year in China, teaching English as a second language in Handan.

19 - IT PAYS TO LET YOUR KID RUN WILD The story of a remarkable relationship between a Japanese firm and Michael Franz '75.

21 - THE REWAK YEARS Alumna-journalist Jeanne Huber describes the way Santa Clara grew during the Rewak administration.

26 - THE DEGNAN WAY How a respected English professor turns undergraduates into professional writers.

Development Of A Novel Dentin Bonding Agent And Testing For Mechanical Properties, Mircroleakage And Toxicity, Sanjay V. Odak

Theses

In this study a dentin bonding agent based on Tolylene diisocyanatc with o chlorophenol as a blocking agent was tested. Bond strength with dentin was determined using a clinically relevant test method. A comparison was made using commercially available bonding agents and restorative resins. A simulation of microleakage around restorations was performed using a "Silver staining technique". Microleakage was quantified using digital image analysis, and a method was proposed to compensate for the loss of the third dimension during image analysis. Layer-by-layer curing of restorative, and an acid etching technique was used to improve bonding to dentin. The oral LD50 …

An Intelligent Computerized Pulse-Duplicator For The In-Vitro Evaluation Of Prosthetic Heart Valves, John F. Andrews

Theses

A computerized data acquisition system is presented for the in-vitro determination of the hydrodynamic performance of prosthetic heart valves. High speed data acquisition and ensemble averaging techniques are employed to minimize error and provide a standard for data collection and analysis across a wide range of simulated physiologic conditions. Processing algorithms automatically divide the cardiac cycle into phases based on landmarks in the pressure and flow waveforms, with minimal variability and without operator intervention. The contributions of valve resistance, regurgitation, ejection, leakage, and power loss to hydrodynamic performance are isolated for investigation. Phasic power loss analysis is reviewed as a …

Computerized Analysis Of Gastrointestinal Spike Burst Activity, Karthik Krishnan

Theses

This thesis describes a computer algorithm for locating gastrointestinal spike bursts. The algorithm also finds the the number of spikes within each spike burst, the average duration, and average amplitude of each spike burst. The algorithm was applied to the automation of the analysis of the Migrating Colonic Complex.

The algorithm detects the spike burst using threshold, time interval and frequency criteria. The computer program is implemented on a PDP 11/73 digital computer. The operation of the algorithm was tested on animal models to detect the spike bursts, before and after the inducement of certain drugs to alter the colonic …

Cotgame: Cotton Insect Pest Management Simulation Game, Kunter S. Akbay, R.W. Mcclendon, L. G. Brown

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

An interactive version of the Cotton and Insect Management (CIM) model was developed to aid individuals in improving their insect pest management decision making skills. This version, COTGAME, allowed the user to encounter situations and make decisions during the simulated cotton crop growing season. The intermediate results of these decisions were immediately delivered in the form of a report on the current status of the crop and insect populations. Based on the information presented in this status report, the user would make additional management decisions and take tactical actions. Once the harvest date had been reached, the economics of the …

Oxidation Of Toluene, Benzene And P-Xylene In A Photoreactor, Shiey-Shiun Horng

Theses

A new photoreactor was designed with stainless steel to oxidize refractory chemicals found on the EPA priority list. This new system was investigated by conducting experiments with three three model compounds, namely, toluene benzene and p-xylene. While toluene and benzene reactions are similar, they are faster with UV/ozone than UV/H₂O₂ and p-xylene reacts even faster with UV/ozone than UV/H₂O₂. The experimental data obtained were analyzed by GC and used to interpret the reaction kinetics from proposed models. The rate constants and mass transfer coefficients were found by using the Rosenbsrock Hillclimb optimization algorithm. …