Engineering Commons^™

Postharvest Treatment To Control Codling Moth In Fresh Apples Using Water Assisted Radio Frequency Heating, Shaojin Wang, Sohan Birla, J. D. Hansen

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Apples destined for export to Japan and South Korea are currently disinfested for codling moth, Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), using methyl bromide fumigation. Restrictions and limitations imposed on the uses of methyl bromide have increased interest in developing alternative non-chemical quarantine treatments. It is imperative that the treatment is effective against codling moth yet maintains the quality of treated apples. The present study explored the application of radio frequency (RF) energy in conjunction with conventional hot water treatment to develop feasible heat treatments. Treatment parameters were selected based on minimum time–temperature conditions required for 100% mortality of fifth-instar codling …

Muskegon Wastewater Land Treatment System: Fate And Transport Of Phosphorus In Soils And Life Expectancy Of The System, C. Hu, Tian Zhang, Y. H. Huang, Mohamed F. Dahab, D. Kendrick, R. Surampalli

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

The build-up of phosphorus (P) in soil is a major factor limiting the operating life of a wastewater land treatment system. In this study, effects of long-term wastewater application on changes in chemical properties, P profiles, and P adsorption capacity were evaluated in soils of the Muskegon wastewater land treatment plant that has been treating wastewater for > 30 years. Results indicate that the major soil properties have been changed. In the 15 cm topsoil, the pH increased from &#;&#;5–6 in 1973 to &#;&#;7.4–7.8 in 2003; the soil’s total organic carbon (TOC) increased by 10–71 %; and the level of exchangeable …

Imse Alumni Survey Of Abet Program Educational Objectives, Paul Savory

Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

This report showcases the results of the Department of Industrial and Management System Engieering's survey of alumni regarding our updated ABET Program Educational Objectives. The Program Educational Objectives represent the expected characteristics of industrial engineering graduates within three to five years of receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial and Management Systems Engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. A total of 76 responses were received. The alumni survey responses indicate strong agreement and approval for the new Program Educational Objectives. The associated comments will be used by the IMSE faculty to future refine the course curriculum to ensure that …

A Template-Based Data Specification Framework For Modeling Physical Security Systems, Ashu Guru, Paul Savory

Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Simulation studies often fail to provide any useful results due to its success being highly dependent on the skills of the analyst to understand a system and then correctly identify all the required data parameters and dependent variables. This paper describes a template-based framework to help identify and specify the components and data parameters for developing models of physical security systems. The layered framework consists of fifteen templates built on top of fourteen data primitives representing 119 data parameters. The modeling framework has been programmed as an internet-based web application and is simulation language independent. The usefulness of the framework …

E(Fg)2: A New Fixed-Grid Shape Optimization Method, Florin Bobaru Ph.D., Srinivas Rachakonda

Department of Engineering Mechanics: Faculty Publications

We propose a shape optimization method over a fixed grid. Nodes at the intersection with the fixed grid lines track the domain’s boundary. These “floating” boundary nodes are the only ones that can move/appear/disappear in the optimization process. The element-free Galerkin (EFG) method, used for the analysis problem, provides a simple way to create these nodes. The fixed grid (FG) defines integration cells for EFG method. We project the physical domain onto the FG and numerical integration is performed over partially cut cells. The integration procedure converges quadratically. The performance of the method is shown with examples from shape optimization …

On-Off Frequency-Shift Keying For Wideband Fading Channels, Mustafa Cenk Gursoy, H. Vincent Poor, Sergio Verdu

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

M-ary on-off frequency-shift keying (OOFSK) is a digital modulation format in which M-ary FSK signaling is overlaid on on/off keying. This paper investigates the potential of this modulation format in the context of wideband fading channels. First, it is assumed that the receiver uses energy detection for the reception of OOFSK signals. Capacity expressions are obtained for the cases in which the receiver has perfect and imperfect fading side information. Power efficiency is investigated when the transmitter is subject to a peak-to-average power ratio (PAR) limitation or a peak power limitation. It is shown that under a PAR limitation, it …

The Transcriptome Of Human Oocytes, Arif Murat Kocabas, Javier Crosby, Pablo J. Ross, Hasan H. Otu, Zeki Beyhan, Handan Can, Wai-Leong Tam, Guilherme J. M. Rosa, Robert G. Halgren, Bing Lim, Emilio Fernandez, Jose Bernardo Cibelli

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

The identification of genes and deduced pathways from the mature human oocyte can help us better understand oogenesis, folliculogenesis, fertilization, and embryonic development. Human metaphase II oocytes were used within minutes after removal from the ovary, and its transcriptome was compared with a reference sample consisting of a mixture of total RNA from 10 different normal human tissues not including the ovary. RNA amplification was performed by using a unique protocol. Affymetrix Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 GeneChip arrays were used for hybridizations. Compared with reference samples, there were 5,331 transcripts significantly up-regulated and 7,074 transcripts significantly down-regulated in the …

Energy-Constrained Quality Optimization For Secure Image Transmission In Wireless Sensor Networks, Wei Wang, Dongming Peng, Honggang Wang, Hamid Sharif, Hsiao-Hwa Chen

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

Resource allocation for multimedia selective encryption and energy efficient transmission has not been fully investigated in literature for wireless sensor networks (WSNs). In this article, we propose a new cross-layer approach to optimize selectively encrypted image transmission quality in WSNs with strict energy constraint. A new selective image encryption approach favorable for unequal error protection (UEP) is proposed, which reduces encryption overhead considerably by controlling the structure of image bitstreams. Also, a novel cross-layer UEP scheme based on cipher-plain-text diversity is studied. In this UEP scheme, resources are unequally and optimally allocated in the encrypted bitstream structure, including data position …

Modeling Dual Polarization Wireless Fading Channels Using Quaternions, B. J. Wysocki, Tadeusz Wysocki, J. Seberry

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications (to 2015)

In the letter we describe signal transmitted between two dual-polarized antennas using a quaternion notation. The channel can then be modeled by a single quaternion gain, instead of a matrix of four complex gains as it is done in a classical approach. The model is very useful as it allows for a simple accommodation of any polarization twist between the transmit and receive antennas, as well as, modeling random fading in both polarizations with or without cross-polar scattering.

Optimization Of Multilayer Wear-Resistant Thin Films Using Finite Element Analysis On Stiff And Compliant Substrates, R. K. Lakkaraju, Florin Bobaru, S. L. Rohde

Department of Engineering Mechanics: Faculty Publications

Extensive research has been carried out by researchers on the growth and characterization of multilayer protective coatings, but the design of these coatings still remains largely empirical. In this regard, recent progress has been made in developing a design approach for optimizing a multilayer coating structure before deposition, which would help save time and material. In pursuit of an optimal design, finite element analysis using a plane strain Hertzian contact model was developed to investigate the stress/ strain behavior within the layers of the system. The present study looks to find the optimal thicknesses of individual layers in a multilayer …

A Model For Predicting The Evolution Of Multiple Cracks On Multiple Length Scales In Viscoelastic Composites, David H. Allen, C. R. Searcy

Department of Engineering Mechanics: Faculty Publications

A model is presented herein for predicting the evolution of numerous cracks on multiple length scales, the objective of such a model being to develop the capability to predict failure of structural components to perform their intended tasks. Such a capability would then be useful as a predictive tool for designing structural components so as not to fail, but rather to succeed in performing their intended tasks. The model developed herein is somewhat involved, being based in continuum mechanics and thermodynamics, but is nevertheless expected to be cost effective (wherever sufficient accuracy permits) when compared to more costly experimental means …

Efficient Inverted Polymer Solar Cells, G. Li, C.-W. Chu, V. Shrotriya, Jinsong Huang, Y. Yang

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

We investigate the effect of interfacial buffer layers—vanadium oxide (V₂O₅) and cesium carbonate (Cs₂CO₃)—on the performance of polymer solar cells based on regioregular poly-(3-hexylthiophene) and [6,6]-phenyl C₆₀ butyric acid methyl ester blend. The polarity of solar cells can be controlled by the relative positions of these two interfacial layers. Efficient inverted polymer solar cells were fabricated with the structure of indium tin oxide (ITO)/Cs₂CO₃/polymer blend/vanadium oxide (V₂O₅)/aluminum (Al). Short-circuit current of 8.42 mA/cm2, open-circuit voltage of 0.56 V, and power conversion efficiency of …

Improving The Power Efficiency Of White Light-Emitting Diode By Doping Electron Transport Material, Jinsong Huang, Wei-Jen Hou, Juo-Hao Li, Gang Li, Yang Yang

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Highly efficient white light emission was realized via the partial energy transfer from blue host polyfluorene (PF) to orange light emission dopant rubrene. A more balanced charge transport was achieved by adding an electron transport material, 2-(4-biphenylyl)-5-(4-tertbutylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (PBD), into the PF-rubrene system to enhance the electron transportation. Efficiency improvement by as much as a factor of 2 has been observed through the addition of PBD. These devices can easily reach high luminance at low driving voltages, thus achieving high power efficiency at high luminance (14.8, 13.5, and 12.0 lm/W at the luminances of 1000, 2000, and 4000 cd/m², …

Piezoelectromagnetic Waves In A Ceramic Plate Between Two Ceramic Half-Spaces, S. N. Jiang, Q. Jiang, X. F. Li, S. H. Guo, H. G. Zhou, J. S. Chang

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

We analyze the propagation of piezoelectromagnetic waves guided by a plate of polarized ceramics between two ceramic half-spaces. An exact dispersion relation is obtained, which reduces to a few known elastic, electromagnetic, and quasistatic piezoelectric wave solutions in the literature as special cases. Numerical solutions to the equation that determines the dispersion relation show the existence of guided waves. The results are useful for acoustic wave and microwave devices.

Biological Opinion On The Operation Of The Missouri River Main Stem System, Missouri River Bank Stabilization And Navigation Project, And Operation Of The Kansas River Reservoir System

United States Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) prepares an annual report for interested parties in accordance with the reporting requirements of the “Biological Opinion (BiOp) on the Operation of the Missouri River Main Stem System, Operation and Maintenance of the Missouri River Bank Stabilization and Navigation Project (BSNP), and Operation of the Kansas River Reservoir System” prepared by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) dated November 30, 2000 and the Amendment, thereto, dated December 16, 2003.

This annual report documents the Corps threatened and endangered species conservation activities to comply with the provisions of the 2000 BiOp and the …

Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System Master Water Control Manual Missouri River Basin

United States Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

In 2003, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) issued an Amended Biological Opinion (2003 Amended BiOp) on the United States Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps’) Missouri River System operations. Among other actions, the 2003 Amended BiOp called for bimodal spring pulse releases from Gavins Point Dam for the benefit of the listed pallid sturgeon. Working with the USFWS, Tribes, states, and other basin stakeholders, the Corps has developed technical criteria for the bimodal spring pulse releases which, under the terms of the 2003 Amended BiOp, are to be implemented by March 2006. By my approval of the attached …

U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers Omaha District Monthly Drought Report, April 2006

United States Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

Current Conditions

Water Year 2006 Mountain Snow

Drought Outlook

Ft. Peck, Montana

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

Access Overview

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Garrison, North Dakota

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

Access Overview

Boat Ramp Information

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Other Areas of Interest/Concern

Oahe, South Dakota

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

Access Overview

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Mainstem Reservoir Information, Weekly Elevation Comparison 5 DEC 2005 through 26 DEC 2005

Mainstem Reservoir Storage Comparison Water Year 2004 vs. Water Year 2005

Ft. Peck, MT

Garrison, ND

Oahe, SD

U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers Omaha District Monthly Drought Report, December 2006

United States Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

Current Conditions

Drought Outlook

Ft. Peck, Montana

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

Access Overview

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Garrison, North Dakota

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

Access Overview

Boat Ramp Information

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Other Areas of Interest/Concern

Oahe, South Dakota

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

Access Overview

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Mainstem Reservoir Information, Weekly Elevation Comparison 6 NOV 2006 through 27 NOV 2006

Mainstem Reservoir Storage Comparison Water Years 2004, 2005, 2006

Ft. Peck, MT

Garrison, ND

Oahe, SD

U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers Omaha District Monthly Drought Report, February 2006

United States Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

Current Conditions

Water Year 2006 Mountain Snow

Drought Outlook

Ft. Peck, Montana

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

Access Overview

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Garrison, North Dakota

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

Access Overview

Boat Ramp Information

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Other Areas of Interest/Concern

Oahe, South Dakota

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

Access Overview

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Mainstem Reservoir Information, Weekly Elevation Comparison 5 DEC 2005 through 26 DEC 2005

Mainstem Reservoir Storage Comparison Water Year 2004 vs. Water Year 2005

Ft. Peck, MT

Garrison, ND

Oahe, SD

U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers Omaha District Monthly Drought Report, January 2006

United States Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

Current Conditions

Water Year 2006 Mountain Snow

Drought Outlook

Ft. Peck, Montana

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

AccessOverview

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Garrison, North Dakota

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

Access Overview

Boat Ramp Information

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Other Areas of Interest/Concern

Oahe, South Dakota

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

Access Overview

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Mainstem Reservoir Information, Weekly Elevation Comparison 5 DEC 2005 through 26 DEC 2005

Mainstem Reservoir Storage Comparison Water Year 2004 vs. Water Year 2005

Ft. Peck,MT

Garrison, ND

Oahe, SD

U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers Omaha District Monthly Drought Report, November 2006

United States Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

Current Conditions

Drought Outlook

Ft. Peck, Montana

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

Access Overview

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Garrison, North Dakota

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

Access Overview

Boat Ramp Information

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Other Areas of Interest/Concern

Oahe, South Dakota

Reservoir Elevation Overview

Water Intake Overview

Access Overview

Noxious Weeds Overview

Cultural Resources Overview

Mainstem Reservoir Information, Weekly Elevation Comparison 7 AUG 2006 through 28 AUG 2006

Mainstem Reservoir Storage Comparison Water Years 2004, 2005, 2006

Ft. Peck, MT

Garrison, ND

Oahe, SD

Modeling, Analysis, And Experimental Study Of In Vivo Wheeled Robotic Mobility, Mark E. Rentschler, Jason Dumpert, Stephen R. Platt, Karl Iagnemma, Dmitry Oleynikov, Shane M. Farritor

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Laparoscopy is abdominal surgery performed with long tools inserted through small incisions. The use of small incisions reduces patient trauma, but also eliminates the surgeon’s ability to view and touch the surgical environment directly. These limitations generally restrict the application of laparoscopy to procedures less complex than those performed during open surgery. This paper presents a theoretical and experimental analysis of miniature, wheeled, in vivo robots to support laparoscopy. The objective is to develop a wireless mobile imaging robot that can be placed inside the abdominal cavity during surgery. Such robots will allow the surgeon to view the surgical environment …

Circular Ultrasound Compounding By Designed Matrix Weighting, Gregory Bashford, Jonathan Morse

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Spatial compounding is an imaging technique that aims to improve image contrast by combining partially decorrelated images acquired at different angles or positions. In conventional spatial compounding, data sets are combined with equal weighting. Here, we describe an alternative method of reconstruction using algorithms which weight the data based on a “quality” matrix. The quality matrix is derived from beam-forming characteristics. For each data set, the reliability of the data is assumed to vary spatially. By compounding the data based on the quality matrix, a complete image is formed. Here, we describe the construction of a rotational translation stage and …

Variable Upper And Lower Crop Water Stress Index Baselines For Corn And Soybean, J. O. Payero, Suat Irmak

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Upper and lower crop water stress index (CWSI) baselines adaptable to different environments and times of day are needed to facilitate irrigation scheduling with infrared thermometers. The objective of this study was to develop dynamic upper and lower CWSI baselines for corn and soybean. Ten-minute averages of canopy temperatures from corn and soybean plots at four levels of soil water depletion were measured at North Platte, Nebraska, during the 2004 growing season. Other variables such as solar radiation (R_s), air temperature (T_a), relative humidity (RH), wind speed (u), and plant canopy height (h) were …

Use Of Time Domain Reflectometry For Continuous Monitoring Of Nitrate-Nitrogen In Soil And Water, J. O. Payero, David D. Tarkalson, Suat Irmak

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Nitrate-Nitrogen (NO₃-N) losses to ground and surface water are an environmental and agronomic concern in modern crop production systems in the Central Great Plains. Monitoring techniques for nitrogen use in agricultural production are needed to increase crop yield, optimize nitrogen use, and reduce NO₃-N leaching. Time domain reflectometry (TDR) could potentially be calibrated to continuously measure NO₃-N in soil and water. The objectives of this study were to: (1) evaluate the effect of different factors affecting the response of the bulk electrical conductivity (ECb) sensed by TDR, (2) compare the sensitivity and differences between …

Land Application Of Manure For Beneficial Reuse, L. M. Risse, M. L. Cabrera, A. J. Franzluebbers, J. W. Gaskin, John E. Gilley, R. Killorn, D. E. Radcliffe, W. E. Tollner, H. Zhang

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

The concentration of animal production systems has increased efficiency and improved overall economic return for animal producers. This concentration, along with the advent of commercial fertilizers, has led to a change in the way animal producers view manure. Manure, once valued as a resource by farmers, is now treated as a waste. Air and water quality concerns that arise primarily from the under-utilization or inefficient use of manure contribute to these changing views. However, when properly used, manure is a resource and should be regulated as such. In the United States, the USDA/EPA Unified National Strategy for Animal Feeding Operations …

Properties Of Chitosan Films As A Function Of Ph And Solvent Type, Ki Myong Kim, Jeong Hwa Son, Sung-Koo Kim, Curtis L. Weller, Milford Hanna

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Two different deacetylated chitosans were dissolved in formic, acetic, lactic, or propionic acid to prepare chitosan films. The pH values of the film-forming solutions were adjusted to 3, 4, and 5. Water vapor permeability (WVP), tensile strength (TS), elongation (E), and total soluble matter (TSM) were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by acid type, pH, and degree of deacetylation (DA). Low DA (LDA) chitosan films had lower WVP and TSM, higher TS compared with high DA (HDA) chitosan films. The E values were not affected by DA. As pH increased, WVP and TSM of chitosan films tended to increase while TS decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Chitosan films with acetic and propionic acid solvents had low WVP and TSM and high TS, while films with lactic acid solvent had high E and TSM and the lowest TS. Fourier-transform infrared showed peak shifting in the spectra with different solvents and at different pH values. Chitosan films with lactic acid solvent showed a peak shift to a lower frequency range. The NH3+ band was absent in the pH 5.0 chitosan film spectra.

Modeling Of Transport Phenomena And Melting Kinetics Of Starch In A Co-Rotating Twin-Screw Extruder, Lijun Wang, David D. Jones, Curtis L. Weller, Milford Hanna

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

A mathematical model was developed to simulate fluid flow, heat transfer, and melting kinetics of starch in a co-rotating intermeshing twin-screw extruder (TSE). The partial differential equations governing the transport phenomena of the biomaterial in the extruder were solved by a finite element scheme. For validating the model, the predicted product pressure, bulk temperature at the entrance of the die, and minimum residence time of the biomaterial in the extruder were compared with experimental data. Standard errors of product pressure, bulk temperature at the die entrance, and minimum residence time were about 8.8, 2.8, and 17.3%. Simulations were carried out …

Impact Of Tillage And Placement Of Terbufos Insecticide Runoff, Mitiku Mamo, William L. Kranz, Elaine R. Douskey, Shripat T. Kamble, John F. Witkowski

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

On a national scale, the damage caused by corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte), can cause economic loss of up to $650 million annually. To limit these losses, corn producers apply terbufos insecticide to approximately 11% of all corn acres at a time when there is a high probability of intense precipitation. When combined with low vegetative cover and disturbed soil surfaces, there is a high potential for terbufos transport into surface water bodies. Increased public concern for environmental contamination from the use of agricultural chemicals has prompted many crop growers to look for crop production practices that minimize …

Nonintrusive Mapping Of Near-Surface Preferential Flow, R. S. Freeland, Lameck O. Odhiambo, J. S. Tyner, J. T. Ammons, W. C. Wright

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

A unique survey protocol has been developed that maps near-subsurface preferential flow using integrated ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and a differential geographical positioning system (DGPS). The survey protocol consists of a mobile GPR system that spirals outward along a prescribed course, continuously gathering subsurface data for an extended period. Metered water is applied to a centrally located water-ponding ring, after first capturing the initial dry-state pattern signatures. The water radiates outward beneath the surface as it follows preferential flow pathways, which the GPR instrumentation spiraling above highlights. After data are collected, pre- and post-water time-elapsed images profiles are segmented by pattern …