Engineering Commons^™

Development Of The Midwest Guardrail System (Mgs) W-Beam To Thrie Beam Transition Element, Ronald K. Faller, John R. Rohde, Robert W. Bielenberg, Karla A. Polivka, Dean L. Sicking, John D. Reid, Craig M. Eller, Erin M. Allison

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Transfected Cell Arrays For The High-Throughput Analysis Of Transcription Factor Activity, Abigail D. Bellis, Angela K. Pannier, Lonnie D Shea

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Presentations and White Papers

Transfected cell arrays offer a high-throughput method that allows for the parallel analysis of multiple pathways or genes within a physiological context. We have developed a transfected cell array that employs a dual-plasmid system that gives the ability to normalize for spot-to-spot variation in transfection efficiency. Each spot within the array contains a constitutively active normalization plasmid encoding for renilla luciferase as well as a functional plasmid that contains transcription factor specific binding elements driving the expression of firefly luciferase. Dual bioluminescent imaging provides highly sensitive analysis while limiting post-transfectional processing. Adequate transfection poses a significant challenge in extending this …

Manure Testing: What To Request?, Charles A. Shapiro, Charles S. Wortmann

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Manure testing is necessary to make optimum use of manure while protecting water resources. This publication is a guide to providing information on a Manure Sample Sub­mission Form for reliable interpretation of results.

The tests most frequently needed to optimize nutrient management are total and ammonium nitrogen (NH₄-N), phosphorus (P₂O₅), potassium (K₂O), pH, soluble salts, sodium, and dry matter content.

Nitrogen. Manure contains both organic and inorganic forms of nitrogen. Ammonium-N is the primary inorganic form in manure and is readily available to crops. Nitrate-N concentration is usually too small to …

Linear Tactile Nanodevice With Resolution On Par With Human Finger, Ravi F. Saraf, Vivek C. Maheshwari, Chieu Nguyen

Ravi Saraf Publications

A large area thin-film nanodevice made by self-assembly containing electroluminescent nanoparticles is reported. The ~100 nm thick device on application of potential across the top and bottom surface of the film converts local pressure to light. The intensity of the electroluminescent light is linearly proportional to the applied local compressive stress. By imaging the light, the stress distribution over the area of contact is obtained at resolution on par with human finger.

Effect Of Tip Resonances On Tunnelling Anisotropic Magnetoresistance In Ferromagnetic Break Junctions: A First-Principles Study, John D. Burton, Renat F. Sabirianov, Julian P. Velev, O. N. Mryasov, Evgeny Y. Tsymbal

Materials Research Science and Engineering Center: Faculty Publications

First-principles calculations of electron tunneling transport in nanoscale Ni and Co break-junctions reveal strong dependence of the conductance on the magnetization direction, an effect known as tunneling anisotropic magnetoresistance TAMR. An important aspect of this phenomenon stems from resonant states localized in the electrodes near the junction break. The energy and broadening of these states is strongly affected by the magnetization orientation due to spin-orbit coupling, causing TAMR to be sensitive to bias voltage on a scale of a few millivolts. Our results bear a resemblance to recent experimental data and suggest that TAMR driven by resonant states is a …

Use Of Ellipsometry And Surface Plasmon Resonance In Monitoring Thin Film Deposition Or Removal From A Substrate Surface, John A. Woollam, Blaine D. Johs, Thomas E. Tiwald, Martin M. Liphardt, James D. Welch

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

Improved methodology for monitoring deposition or removal of material to or from a process and/or Wittness substrate Which demonstrates a negative e1 at some Wave length. The method involves detection of changes in P-polarized electromagnetism ellipsometric DELTA at SPR Resonance Angle-of-lncidence (A01) to monitor deposition of and/or removal of minute amounts of materials onto, or from, said process and/or Witness substrate. The methodology can optionally monitor ellipsometric PS1, and involves simultaneously or sequentially applying non-P-polarized electromagnetism at the same angle of incidence, or electromagnetic radiation of any polarization at a different angle-of-incidence and Wavelength to the process or Witt ness …

Evaluation Of Irrigation Strategies With The Dssat Cropping System Model, Derek M. Heeren, Hal D. Warner, Todd P. Trooien

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Water is becoming an increasingly valuable commodity with shortages and water rationing more commonplace. Since irrigation is the largest consumptive use of water in South Dakota, accounting for over 70% of the water withdrawals, irrigation water management is critical to make the best use of the water available. This project uses the CERES-Maize cropping system model (available in DSSAT v4) to study the impact of various irrigation management strategies on corn production. SDSU management software developed by Oswald (2006) is used to simulate a center pivot for specific locations and years. Weather data from several sites in the Great Plains …

Flying Mobile On-Board Ellipsometer, Polarimeter, Reflectometer And The Like Systems, Blaine D. Johs,, Ping He, Martin M. Liphardt, Christopher A. Goeden, John A. Woollam, James D. Welch

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

A substantially self-contained “on-boar ” material system investigation system functionally mounted on a three dimen sional locational system to enable positioning at desired locations on, and distances from, the surface of a large sample, including the capability to easily and conveniently change the angle-of-incidence of a beam of electromagnetic radiation onto a sample surface.

Acuta Enews October 2007, Vol.36, No. 10

ACUTA Newsletters

ln This lssue

From the President .............. Watt Magnussen, Ph.D., Texas A&M University

Tech Talk: Makin' Bacn: Another Way to Clog lnboxes............... Kevin Tanzillo, Dux PR

DC Update............... Jeanne Jansenius, Sewanee, The University of the South

Board Report ................. Riny Ledgerwood, San Diego State Univ., ACUTA Sec./Treasurer

New Faces at ACUTA

Web Tip: Listserv Reminders ................. Aaron Fuehrer, ACUTA Information Technology Mgr.

Member Sites to See

lnfo Links Randy Hayes, Univ. of Northern lowa

lnvite Your Vendors to Join ACUTA............. Amy Burton, ACUTA Mgr., Membership Mktg.& Corp. Relations

Welcome New Members

Check lt Out: RFls/RFPs, Job Postings, Press Releases

Semester Project For Engineering Management, Paul Savory

Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering: Instructional Materials

This is the semester-project for my IMSE 405/805 course on Engineering Management at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. This team-based project required students to develop an operational plan (facility layout, required staffing, company operating policies, company benefits program) for a specified product.

Ribosome Kinetics And Aa-Trna Competition Determine Rate And Fidelity Of Peptide Synthesis, Aaron Fluitt, Elsje Pienaar, Hendrik J. Viljoen

Hendrik J. Viljoen Publications

It is generally accepted that the translation rate depends on the availability of cognate aa-tRNAs. In this study it is shown that the key factor that determines translation rate is the competition between near-cognate and cognate aa-tRNAs. The transport mechanism in the cytoplasm is diffusion, thus the competition between cognate, near-cognate and non-cognate aa-tRNAs to bind to the ribosome is a stochastic process. Two competition measures are introduced; C (i) and R (i) (i = 1, 64) are quotients of the arrival frequencies of near-cognates vs. cognates and noncognates vs. cognates, respectively. Furthermore, the reaction …

A Universal Theory Of Pseudocodewords, Nathan Axvig, Emily Price, Eric T. Psota, Deanna Turk, Lance C. Pérez, Judy L. Walker

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

Three types of pseudocodewords for LDPC codes are found in the literature: graph cover pseudocodewords, linear programming pseudocodewords, and computation tree pseudocodewords. In this paper we first review these three notions and known connections between them. We then propose a new decoding rule — universal cover decoding — for LDPC codes. This new decoding rule also has a notion of pseudocodeword attached, and this fourth notion provides a framework in which we can better understand the other three.

A Site-Wide Perspective On Uranium Geochemistry At The Hanford Site, John M. Zachara, C. Brown, J. Christensen, J.A. Davis, E. Dresel, Chongxuan Liu, S. Kelly, James Mckinley, J. Serne, W. Um

United States Department of Energy: Publications

Uranium (U) is an important risk-driving contaminant at the Hanford Site. Over 200,000 kg have been released to the vadose zone over the course of site operations, and a number of vadose zone and groundwater plumes containing the uranyl cation [UO₂²⁺, U(VI)] have been identified. U is recognized to be of moderate-to-high mobility, conditions dependent. The site is currently making decisions on several of these plumes with long-lasting implications, and others are soon to come.

Uranium is one of nature’s most intriguing and chemically complex elements. The fate and transport of U(VI) has been studied over the …

Implementation Of The Aashto Lrfd Code In Geotechnical Design, Andrzej S. Nowak, Marek Kozikowski,, Tomasz A Lutomirski, Piotr Paczkowski, Jordan Larsen

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Wigner Distribution Of A Transducer Beam Pattern Within A Multiple Scattering Formalism For Heterogeneous Solids, Goutam Ghoshal, Joseph A. Turner, Richard Weaver

Department of Engineering Mechanics: Faculty Publications

Diffuse ultrasonic backscatter measurements have been especially useful for extracting microstructural information and for detecting flaws in materials. Accurate interpretation of experimental data requires robust scattering models. Quantitative ultrasonic scattering models include components of transducer beam patterns as well as microstructural scattering information. Here, the Wigner distribution is used in conjunction with the stochastic wave equation to model this scattering problem. The Wigner distribution represents a distribution in space and time of spectral energy density as a function of wave vector and frequency. The scattered response is derived within the context of the Wigner distribution of the beam pattern of …

Electroelastic Effect Of Thickness Mode Langasite Resonators, Haifeng Zhang, Joseph A. Turner, J. S. Yang, J. A. Kosinski

Department of Engineering Mechanics: Faculty Publications

Langasite is a very promising material for resonators due to its good temperature behavior and high piezoelectric coupling, low acoustic loss, and high Q factor. The biasing effect for langasite resonators is crucial for resonator design. In this article, the resonant frequency shift of a thickness-mode langasite resonator is analyzed with respect to a direct current (DC) electric field applied in the thickness direction. The vibration modes of a thin langasite plate fully coated with an electrode are analyzed. The analysis is based on the theory for small fields superposed on a bias in electroelastic bodies and the first-order perturbation …

Bioluminescence Imaging For Assessment And Normalization In Transfected Cell Arrays, Angela K. Pannier, Eric A. Ariazi, Abigail D. Bellis, Zain Bengali, V. Craig Jordan, Lonnie D. Shea

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Transfected cell arrays (TCAs) represent a high-throughput technique to correlate gene expression with functional cell responses. Despite advances in TCAs, improvements are needed for the widespread application of this technology. We have developed a TCA that combines a two-plasmid system and dual-bioluminescence imaging to quantitatively normalize for variability in transfection and increase sensitivity. The two-plasmids consist of: (i) normalization plasmid present within each spot, and (ii) functional plasmid that varies between spots, responsible for the functional endpoint of the array. Bioluminescence imaging of dual-luciferase reporters (renilla, firefly luciferase) provides sensitive and quantitative detection of cellular response, with minimal post-transfection processing. …

Rational De Novo Gene Synthesis By Rapid Polymerase Chain Assembly (Pca) And Expression Of Endothelial Protein-C And Thrombin Receptor Genes, Tarlan G. Mamedov, Nisha V. Padhye, Hendrik J. Viljoen, Anuradha Subramanian

Anuradha Subramanian Publications

The assembly of synthetic oligonucleotides into genes and genomes is an important methodology. Several methodologies for such synthesis have been developed, but they have two drawbacks: (1) the processes are slow and (2) the error frequencies are high (typically 1–3 errors/kb of DNA). Thermal damage is a major contributor to biosynthetic errors. In this paper, we elucidate the advantages of rapid gene synthesis by polymerase chain assembly (PCA) when used in combination with smart error control strategies. We used a high-speed thermocycler (PCRJet®) to effectively minimize thermal damage and to perform rapid assembly of synthetic oligonucleotides to construct two different …

Sample Entry Purge System In Spectrophotometer, Ellipsometer, Polarimeter And The Like Systems, Steven E. Green, Ping He, Galen L. Pfeiffer, Brian D. Guenther, Gerald T. Cooney, John A. Woollam, Martin M. Liphardt, Blaine D. Johs, Craig M. Herzinger

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

A sample sequestering system which allows access to a subspace in a chamber encompassed generally enclosed space, for use in entering and removing a sample when the subspace is opened to atmosphere. Sufficient purge gas is flowed from withing the generally enclosed space into the subspace discourage atmospheric contaminates from entering into the space is a spectrophotometer, ellipsometer or polarimeter or the like system which operates at wavelengths, (eg. UV), which are advesely affected, (eg. absorded), by typical atmospheric contents.

Effect Of Hydrofluoric Acid In Oxidizing Acid Mixtures On The Hydroxylation Of Silicon Surface, Sanjukta Guhathakurta, Anuradha Subramanian

Anuradha Subramanian Publications

Silicon (100) wafers, predipped in 1:20 (v/v) HF water, were treated separately with four different acid mixtures, viz., HNO₃, H₂SO₄–H₂O₂, HNO₂–HF, and H₂SO₄–H₂O₂–HF, for different time durations. Subsequent vigorous rinsing with deionized water rendered the wafer surfaces with hydroxyl termination. Synthesized surfaces were characterized by diffuse-reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), ellipsometry, contact angle and atomic force microscopy. Surfaces treated with HN0₃ and H₂SO₂–H₂O₂ showed increasing hydrophilicity at room temperature due to …

National Livestock And Poultry Environmental Learning Center, Richard K. Koelsch, Mark Risse, Joe Harrison, Jill Heemstra

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Presentations and White Papers

This paper describes a new national learning center designed to improve the delivery of science-based information to non-research customers. The vision of the Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center is to provide individuals involved in public policy issues, animal production, and delivery of technical services for confined animal systems with on-demand access to the nation’s best science-based resources that is responsive to priority and emerging environmental issues associated with animal agriculture. This project will test innovative approaches such as a web cast seminar series to connect national experts with those individuals and organizations that influence animal producer decisions on manure …

Association Of Odor Measures With Annoyance: An Odor-Monitoring Field Study, Richard R. Stowell, Christopher G. Henry, Richard K. Koelsch, Dennis D. Schulte

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Presentations and White Papers

Multiple assessments of ambient odor were made by trained individuals in the vicinity of a swine finishing operation in eastern Nebraska during the summers of 2005 and 2006. This paper addresses an analysis of assessor responses in Year 1 of this field study to determine what relationships existed between field odor measurements/ratings and ratings of annoyance potential, and to identify candidate measurement threshold values for odors that are likely to cause an annoyance. The first-year results showed that the likelihood of odor causing annoyance increased as ambient odors became more offensive, more intense, and more concentrated, with r² values …

Software Tool For Integrating Feed Management Into Nutrient Planning, Richard K. Koelsch, Ray Massey, Galen E. Erickson, Virgil R. Bremer

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Presentations and White Papers

The introduction of ASABE Standard D384.2, Manure Production and Characteristics, has created the opportunity to integrate feed management decisions and animal performance measures into nutrient planning processes. This paper introduces a software tool that integrates estimates of nutrient excretion based on the new standard with estimates of land need, labor and equipment time allocation, and economic cost and benefit for manure application. This tool will be used to evaluate the economic implications for two scenarios using beef cattle examples as a means of illustrating tool application. The first scenario will look at the impact of feeding ethanol co-products on the …

Method Of Calibrating Effects Of Field Of Classification Search Multi-Aoi-System For Easy Changing Angles-Of-Incidence In Ellipsometers And The Like, Blaine D. Johs, Ping He, Martin M. Liphardt, Christopher A. Goeden, John A. Woollam, James D. Welch

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

Disclosed is a system for enabling easy sequential setting of different Angles-of-Incidence of a beam of electromagnetic radiation to a surface of a sample system involving regression based methodology for evaluating and compensating the effects of the presence electromagnetic beam intercepting angle-of-incidence changing systems, including where desired, parameterization of calibration parameters.

Acuta Enews September 2007, Vol.36, No. 9

ACUTA Newsletters

ln This lssue

From ACUTA Headquarters ................. Jeri A. Semer, CAE, ACUTA Executive Director

lnfo Links.................. Randy Hayes, Univ. of Northern lowa

Tech Talk: Change May Be Constant, But at Least lt's Gradual.............. Kevin Tanzilto, Dux PR

DC Update................ Jeanne Jansenius, Sewanee, The University of the South

Board Report..................... Riny Ledgerwood, San Diego State Univ., ACUTA Sec./Treasurer

Telecommunications Enhancing School Safety............. Gerard Shallo, XTEND Communications

Check lt Out: RFls/RFPs, Job Postings, Press Releases

ACUTA Resources Make Membership a Great Value ................. Patty Benton, University of Alabama

FYI: Useful lnformation from the Campus Student Monitor

Treasure Chest Winners

Welcome New Members …

Femtosecond Laser Microprocessing Of Aluminum Films And Quartz, David Doerr

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Laser micro and nano-machining using sub-picosecond laser pulses has become a very active area of research, driven by the development of more user-friendly lasers. An improved understanding of the advantages and limitations of using these lasers when processing various materials is desirable.

Ablation of 20 nm thick aluminum films was carried out using pulse widths from 300 fs to 6 ns to achieve sub-micron ablation diameters. Resolution and quality of the resulting craters is compared and discussed. The minimum crater diameter obtained with complete ablation of the film was 130–260 nm for a 400 nm wavelength, 400 fs pulse focused …

Estimating Business And Residential Water Supply Interruption Losses From Catastrophic Events, Nicholas Brozovic, David L. Sunding, David Zilberman

Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute: Faculty Publications

Following man-made or natural catastrophes, widespread and long-lasting disruption of lifelines can lead to economic impacts for both business and residential lifeline users. As a result, the total economic losses caused by infrastructure damage may be much higher than the value of damage to infrastructure itself. In this paper, we consider the estimation of economic impacts on businesses and residential consumers resulting from water supply disruption. The methodology we present for estimating business interruption losses assumes that marginal losses are increasing in the severity of disruption and that there may be a critical water availability cutoff below which business activity …

Size Effect In Polymer Nanofibers Under Tension, Xiangfa Wu, Yuris A. Dzenis

Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience: Faculty Publications

This article studies the size effect on the elastic behavior of solid and hollow polymer nanofibers (e.g., electrospun nanofibers) subjected to uniaxial tension. A one-dimensional nonlinear elastic tension model is proposed that takes into account the coupling effect of fiber elastic deformation and surface tension. The fiber axial force-displacement and stress-strain relations are obtained in explicit forms. It is shown that, at nanoscale, fiber radius has appreciable effect on the elastic response of polymer nanofibers. With consideration of the fiber radial effect, it is shown that the actual contribution of surface energy of the solid polymer fibers to the axial …

Spatial Confinement Effects In Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, X. K. Shen, Jian Sun, Hao Ling, Yongfeng Lu

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

The spatial confinement effects in laser-induced breakdown of aluminum (A1) targets in air have been investigated both by optical emission spectroscopy and fast photography. A KrF excimer laser was used to produce plasmas from Al targets in air. Al atomic emission lines show an obvious enhancement in the emission intensity when a pair of Al-plate walls were placed to spatially confine the plasma plumes. Images of the Al plasma plumes showed that the plasma plumes evolved into a torus shape and were compressed in the Al walls. The mechanism for the confinement effects was discussed using shock wave theory.

Novel Method For Mechanical Characterization Of Polymeric Nanofibers, Mohammad Naraghi, Loannis Chasiotis, Harold Kahn, Yongkui Wen, Yuris A. Dzenis

Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience: Faculty Publications

A novel method to perform nanoscale mechanical characterization of highly deformable nanofibers has been developed. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) test platform with an on-chip leaf-spring load cell that was tuned with the aid of a focused ion beam was built for fiber gripping and force measurement and it was actuated with an external piezoelectric transducer. Submicron scale tensile tests were performed in ambient conditions under an optical microscope. Engineering stresses and strains were obtained directly from images of the MEMS platform, by extracting the relative rigid body displacements of the device components by digital image correlation. The accuracy in determining …