Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Biological Engineering Commons™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Discipline
Institution
Keyword
Publication Year
Publication
Publication Type
File Type

Articles 991 - 1020 of 1215

Full-Text Articles in Biological Engineering

The Certified Safe Farm Project In Nebraska: The First Year, Jerry Jaspersen, Susanna Von Essen, Pam List, Larry Howard, David Morgan Jan 1999

The Certified Safe Farm Project In Nebraska: The First Year, Jerry Jaspersen, Susanna Von Essen, Pam List, Larry Howard, David Morgan

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Potentially preventable death, disabling injury, and serious illness are very common secondary to work in production agriculture in Nebraska and elsewhere. The traditional approach to farm safety has consisted largely of education designed to prevent traumatic injury. While education is of critical importance, additional incentives may be needed to reduce fatal and non-fatal events to an acceptable level. The Certified Safe Farm concept was developed in collaboration with two Nebraska health insurance companies. The program consists of combining an on-farm safety assessment and occupational health screening with an education program. The incentive to complete this program is to be eligible …

Go to article

Nitrate Leaching In Irrigated Corn And Soybean In A Semi-Arid Climate, N. L. Klocke, Darrell G. Watts, J. P. Schneekloth, Don R. Davison, R. W. Todd, Anne M. Parkhurst Jan 1999

Nitrate Leaching In Irrigated Corn And Soybean In A Semi-Arid Climate, N. L. Klocke, Darrell G. Watts, J. P. Schneekloth, Don R. Davison, R. W. Todd, Anne M. Parkhurst

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Nitrate-nitrogen leached from the root zone of land in intensive corn production is a major groundwater contaminant in some of the intensively irrigated regions of the western Cornbelt, including central and western Nebraska. To obtain a clearer understanding of the amount and timing of nitrate leaching losses from irrigated crops, 14 monolithic percolation lysimeters were installed in 1989-1990 in sprinkler irrigated plots at the University of Nebraska’s West Central Research and Extension Center near North Platte, Nebraska. The lysimeters were used to provide a direct measure of leachate depth from continuous corn and a corn-soybean rotation. Both cropping systems were …

Go to article

Wax Yield Of Grain Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor) As Affected By Mechanical Harvesting, Threshing, And Handling Methods, K. R. Lochte-Watson, Curtis L. Weller Jan 1999

Wax Yield Of Grain Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor) As Affected By Mechanical Harvesting, Threshing, And Handling Methods, K. R. Lochte-Watson, Curtis L. Weller

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Wax is found on the outer layer of the grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) kernel. Current harvesting and handling techniques cause abrasion and breakage, thereby potentially reducing wax yield from sorghum kernels. The purpose of this study was to determine wax yield of sorghum after mechanical harvesting and handling and to compare wax yield of whole and broken sorghum kernels. Combine threshing and auger conveying of grain caused abrasion and breakage, which reduced the wax yield by 5%. The monitored process in this experiment included a cleaning system which reduced the amount of broken kernels and sorghum particles, increasing …

Go to article

Opto-Electronic Sensor System For Laboratory Measurement Of Planter Seed Spacing With Small Seeds, Y. Lan, Michael F. Kocher, John A. Smith Jan 1999

Opto-Electronic Sensor System For Laboratory Measurement Of Planter Seed Spacing With Small Seeds, Y. Lan, Michael F. Kocher, John A. Smith

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

An opto-electronic sensor system for measuring seed spacing uniformity with different types of seeds is described in this paper. It consisted of a rectangular photogate block (124 × 92 mm) with 24 phototransistors (diameter, 3 mm) receiving light beams from 24 light emitting diodes (diameter, 3 mm) opposite them, a digital input/output board in a personal computer, and power supplies. The opto-electronic system was tested by comparing seed spacing measurements obtained from the opto-electronic system with measurements of the same seed spacings obtained from a grease belt test stand. The tests were conducted with different types of seeds including regular-pelleted …

Go to article

Belts Vs Tires, Belts Vs Belts, Tires Vs Tires, Leonard L. Bashford, Michael F. Kocher Jan 1999

Belts Vs Tires, Belts Vs Belts, Tires Vs Tires, Leonard L. Bashford, Michael F. Kocher

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Tractive performance comparisons among two different width rubber belt tracks, 46 cm (18 in.) and 81 cm (32 in.) wide, and two different size rear tires, 710/70R38 and 18.4R46, were made on two different surface conditions. The belts were tested on a Caterpillar 55 tractor equipped with the Mobil-trac™ system and the tires on a John Deere 8400 mechanical front-wheel-drive (MFWD) tractor. The performance tests were completed on two surfaces, one being a non-tilled wheat stubble field and the second, the wheat stubble field tilled approximately 23 cm (9 in.) deep with a Noble blade sweep. Performance comparisons using tractive …

Go to article

Seepage Characteristics And Hydraulic Properties Of A Feedlot Runoff Storage Pond, David B. Parker, Dean E. Eisenhauer, Dennis D. Schulte, John A. Nienaber Jan 1999

Seepage Characteristics And Hydraulic Properties Of A Feedlot Runoff Storage Pond, David B. Parker, Dean E. Eisenhauer, Dennis D. Schulte, John A. Nienaber

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Water and chemical transport were investigated beneath a 22-year-old beef feedlot runoff storage pond. Soil and sludge samples were collected from 14 borings to 6.1-m depths in a cross-section across the pond. The soils consisted of silt loam and clay loam, and the groundwater level was about 30 m beneath the land surface. Soil samples were analyzed for pH, NO3-N, NH4-N, Cl, P, K, SO4-S, TKN, and organic matter. Physical and hydraulic properties were measured on undisturbed samples of soil and sludge to compare saturated hydraulic conductivity, moisture release characteristics, and bulk density. Saturated …

Go to article

Runoff And Erosion Following Field Application Of Beef Cattle Manure And Compost, John E. Gilley, Bahman Eghball Jul 1998

Runoff And Erosion Following Field Application Of Beef Cattle Manure And Compost, John E. Gilley, Bahman Eghball

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Manure or compost from beef cattle feedlots can be excellent sources of nutrients and organic matter when added to soils. This study was conducted to determine the effect of a single application of manure and compost on runoff and erosion under no-till and tillage conditions. Tillage consisted of a single disking operation up and down the slope on a Sharpsburg soil which was cropped to grain sorghum or wheat the previous season. Manure and compost were applied at rates required to meet corn fertility requirements. Additional experimental treatments included the application of inorganic fertilizer and an untreated check. The addition …

Go to article

Design Of Tapered Augers For Uniform Unloading Particulate Material From Rectangular Cross-Section Containers, M. S. Burr, Michael F. Kocher, David D. Jones Jan 1998

Design Of Tapered Augers For Uniform Unloading Particulate Material From Rectangular Cross-Section Containers, M. S. Burr, Michael F. Kocher, David D. Jones

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

The design equation for an auger to provide uniform unloading of particulate material from a container with a rectangular cross-section (Jones and Kocher, 1995) was revised to account for the minimum flighting height that could effectively unload particles with a known average smallest diameter. A minimum flighting height that was about 64% of the average smallest diameter of the particles was experimentally determined to obtain mean slopes of the top surface of the material not significantly different from zero for screened soybeans. A linear taper that best fit the square root curve for the inside diameter of the auger was …

Go to article

Relationships Among Grain Sorghum Quality Factors, Roberto A. Buffo, Curtis L. Weller, Anne M. Parkhurst Jan 1998

Relationships Among Grain Sorghum Quality Factors, Roberto A. Buffo, Curtis L. Weller, Anne M. Parkhurst

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Correlations among grain sorghum quality factors (proximate composition, physical properties, and water absorption properties) were evaluated. Samples of 46 commercial hybrids (24 and 22 from crop years 1993 and 1994) were analyzed for starch, protein, crude free fat, test weight, absolute density, 1,000 kernel weight, percent kernel abraded, water absorption index, initial water absorption rate, and moisture saturation point. Test weight, absolute density, and percent kernel abraded were positively correlated among themselves (r > 0.5). Protein was negatively correlated with both test weight and absolute density (r < -0.5), while moisture saturation point showed negative correlations with test weight, absolute density, 1,000 kernel weight, and percent kernel abraded (r < -0.4). Principal component factor analysis through the covariance matrix explained 95% of the total variation of quality factors among hybrids (two factors), and, through the correlation matrix, 85% of the total variation (five factors). Water absorption rate decreased with increasing starch content of grain sorghum kernels as water absorption rate increased and amount of water for saturation decreased with softening of kernels.

Go to article

Opto-Electronic Sensor System For Rapid Evaluation Of Planter Seed Spacing Uniformity, Michael F. Kocher, Yubin Lan, Changhe Chen, John A. Smith Jan 1998

Opto-Electronic Sensor System For Rapid Evaluation Of Planter Seed Spacing Uniformity, Michael F. Kocher, Yubin Lan, Changhe Chen, John A. Smith

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

An opto-electronic seed spacing evaluation system that measured time intervals between seeds and detected front-to-back location of seed drop events relative to the planter was used to rapidly determine planter seed spacing uniformity in the laboratory. The seed detection sensor for the opto-electronic system consisted of a rectangular photogate with 24 phototransistors receiving light beams from 24 LEDs opposite to them. The system also included circuitry to interface the photogate with a digital I/O board in a personal computer. The opto-electronic system was tested with three planter configurations. During the tests, the photogate was positioned beneath the seed drop tube …

Go to article

Controlled Environment Potentiostat To Study Solid-Aqueous Systems, R A. Petrie, P. R. Grossl, Ronald C. Sims Jan 1998

Controlled Environment Potentiostat To Study Solid-Aqueous Systems, R A. Petrie, P. R. Grossl, Ronald C. Sims

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

We designed a redox apparatus that controls electropotenial (Eh), pH, and temperature. The apparatus is fully automated and can be assembled from equipment found in most soil analytical laboratories. The reactor can maintain environmental conditions used to evaluate the chemical fate of contaminants under natural conditions (natural attenuation) or adjust them to a new steady state to evaluate the effect of engineered remediation on a subsurface system. It can operate within a wide range of redox potential values (−400 to 400 mV) and at any pH value. The stability and accuracy of the instrument was tested by performing Eh-pH titrations …

Go to article

Sediment Movement Within A Strip Intercropping System, John E. Gilley, L. A. Kramer, R. M. Cruse, A. Hull Nov 1997

Sediment Movement Within A Strip Intercropping System, John E. Gilley, L. A. Kramer, R. M. Cruse, A. Hull

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

This study was conducted to identify sediment movement within a strip intercropping system in southwestern Iowa during the third year of a three-year crop rotation. Soil loss, resulting from the application of simulated rainfall to a Monona silt loam soil, was measured from individual corn (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr), and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) strips, and from multiple strips which included all three crops. Because of the crop rotation and residue management procedures, used at the study site, a substantial amount of surface cover and vegetative mass was present on each of …

Go to article

Testing Of A Water Loss Distribution Model For Moving Sprinkler Systems, Allen L. Thompson, Derrel L. Martin, John M. Norman, Judy A. Tolk, James R. Gilley, Arlan D. Schneider Sep 1997

Testing Of A Water Loss Distribution Model For Moving Sprinkler Systems, Allen L. Thompson, Derrel L. Martin, John M. Norman, Judy A. Tolk, James R. Gilley, Arlan D. Schneider

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Field water balance measurements using monolithic lysimeters were used in validating the Cupid-DPE model for predicting water loss partitioning during sprinkler irrigation from a moving lateral system fitted with impact sprinklers and spray nozzles. The model combines equations governing water droplet evaporation and droplet ballistics with a comprehensive plant-environment energy balance model. Comparisons indicate good agreement between measured and modeled transpiration, and the measured and modeled soil evaporation during the day of irrigation. Total predicted evapotranspiration during the day of irrigation was greater than measured totals using the monolithic lysimeters. However, part of this difference was because the lysimeters could …

Go to article

Runoff, Erosion, And Soil Quality Characteristics Of A Former Conservation Reserve Program Site In Southwestern Oklahoma, John E. Gilley, John W. Doran, Thanh H. Dao Sep 1997

Runoff, Erosion, And Soil Quality Characteristics Of A Former Conservation Reserve Program Site In Southwestern Oklahoma, John E. Gilley, John W. Doran, Thanh H. Dao

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

This study was conducted to measure runoff, erosion, and soil quality characteristics of a site in southwestern Oklahoma the first year following conversion from the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Treatments included undisturbed CRP, Old World bluestem (Bothriochlora ischaemum L.), no-till wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and conservation-till wheat. Significant differences in surface cover were found between each of the experimental treatments, with values ranging from 100% on the undisturbed CRP site to 42% for the conservation-till treatment. No significant difference in runoff was found among the various experimental treatments. The Old World bluestem and winter wheat treatments had only …

Go to article

Tillage Effects On Soil Erosion Potential And Soil Quality Of A Former Conservation Reserve Program Site, John E. Gilley, J. W. Doran May 1997

Tillage Effects On Soil Erosion Potential And Soil Quality Of A Former Conservation Reserve Program Site, John E. Gilley, J. W. Doran

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

This study was conducted to determine the effects of tillage on soil erosion potential and soil quality characteristics of a former Conservation Research Program (CRP) site. Following tillage, the study area in northern Mississippi was maintained in a fallow condition for nine months. Soil loss from simulated rainfall events was minimal on recently tilled plots and an adjoining, undisturbed CRP area. In contrast, soil loss from the former CRP site which had been tilled nine months previously was similar to values obtained before the CRP program when the area had been cropped for several years. Tillage and over-winter fallowing caused …

Go to article

Monoclonal Antibody Assay And Kit For Detecting Metal Cations In Body Fluids (Continuation), Randall R. Carlson, Jay S. Stout, Dwane E. Wylie, Fred W. Wagner, Malcolm Riddell Apr 1997

Monoclonal Antibody Assay And Kit For Detecting Metal Cations In Body Fluids (Continuation), Randall R. Carlson, Jay S. Stout, Dwane E. Wylie, Fred W. Wagner, Malcolm Riddell

Biological Process Development Facility: Staff Publications

The invention provides method and kits for detecting a metallic cation in a sample of a body fluid. The preferred method and kits include the use of at least two different types of antibodies having different specificities. In the preferred method, the sample of body fluid can be contacted with an effective amount of a capture antibody specific for a naturally occurring polypeptide that can bind the metallic cation to form a first antigen-antibody complex. An effective amount of an antibody specific for an epitope on a metallic cation-naturally occurring polypeptide complex or an antibody specific for a metallic cation …

Go to article

Irrigation Performance Measures: Efficiency And Uniformity, C. M. Burt, A. J. Clemmens, T. S. Strelkoff, K. H. Solomon, R. D. Bliesner, L. A. Hardy, T. A. Howell, Dean E. Eisenhauer Jan 1997

Irrigation Performance Measures: Efficiency And Uniformity, C. M. Burt, A. J. Clemmens, T. S. Strelkoff, K. H. Solomon, R. D. Bliesner, L. A. Hardy, T. A. Howell, Dean E. Eisenhauer

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

It is essential to standardize the definitions and approaches to quantifying various irrigation performance measures. The ASCE Task Committee on Defining Irrigation Efficiency and Uniformity provides a comprehensive examination of various performance indices such as irrigation efficiency, application efficiency, irrigation sagacity, distribution uniformity, and others. Consistency is provided among different irrigation methods and different scales. Clarification of common points of confusion is provided, and methods are proposed whereby the accuracy of numerical values of the performance indicators can be assessed. This issue has two companion papers that provide more detailed information on statistical distribution uniformity and the accuracy of irrigation …

Go to article

Adsorption And Desorption Of Phosphorus And Nitrogen By Immersed Stalks, John E. Gilley, B. Eghball, David B. Marx Jan 1997

Adsorption And Desorption Of Phosphorus And Nitrogen By Immersed Stalks, John E. Gilley, B. Eghball, David B. Marx

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Adsorption and desorption of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) by stalk residues may influence the concentrations of P and N in runoff. A laboratory study was conducted to measure the effects of P and N constituents in solution on adsorption and desorption of P and N by corn, soybean, and wheat stalk residues. Experimental variables included type of stalk material (corn, soybean, and wheat), inorganic nutrients in solution (PO4-P and NO3-N; PO4-P and NH4-N; NO3-N and NH4-N; and PO4-P, NO3-N, and NH4-N), …

Go to article

Selected Physical Properties Of Jointed Goatgrass (Aegilops Cylindrica Host.), C. M. Hubbard, Curtis L. Weller, David D. Jones Jan 1997

Selected Physical Properties Of Jointed Goatgrass (Aegilops Cylindrica Host.), C. M. Hubbard, Curtis L. Weller, David D. Jones

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Selected physical properties of jointed goatgrass samples collected in western Nebraska and eastern Colorado were determined. Measured properties were spikelet dimensions (length 10.8 ± 0.35 mm; width 2.59 ± 0.25 mm), particle density (0.761 ± 0.016 g/m3), bulk density (351 ± 26.9 kg/m3), terminal velocity (301 ± 25.9 m/min), angle of repose (26.3 ± 0.286°), internal coefficient of friction (0.494 ± 0.007), and equilibrium moisture contents at 10% RH (6.56 ± 1.03% w.b.), 30% RH (7.43 ± 1.21% w.b.), 50% RH (9.01 ± 0.67% w.b.), 70% RH (11.89 ± 0.61% w.b.), and 90% RH (20.39 ± …

Go to article

Optimization Of Sulfur Dioxide And Lactic Acid Steeping Concentrations For Wet-Milling Of Grain Sorghum, R. A. Buffo, Curtis L. Weller, A. M. Parkhurst Jan 1997

Optimization Of Sulfur Dioxide And Lactic Acid Steeping Concentrations For Wet-Milling Of Grain Sorghum, R. A. Buffo, Curtis L. Weller, A. M. Parkhurst

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Influence of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and lactic acid (LA) on grain sorghum steeping efficiency in terms of wet-milling characteristics was investigated using response surface analysis. Tested ranges of concentrations in steeping water were 0.050 to 0.278% and 0 to 0.282% for SO2 and LA, respectively. Measured wet-milling variables were steeping solids yield, starch yield, protein yield, fiber/germ yield, starch recovery, protein recovery and protein content of starch. Starch and protein recovery values were highly correlated to each other (r = 0.74). Correlations of these attributes with fiber/germ yield were strongly negative (r = –0.96 and r = …

Go to article

Cast Films From Soy Protein Isolates And Fractions, L. A. Kunte, A. Gennadios, S. L. Cuppett, M. A. Hanna, Curtis L. Weller Jan 1997

Cast Films From Soy Protein Isolates And Fractions, L. A. Kunte, A. Gennadios, S. L. Cuppett, M. A. Hanna, Curtis L. Weller

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Glycerol-plasticized soy protein films were cast from alkaline aqueous film-forming solutions of laboratory-prepared 7S, 11S, and soy isolate (LSI) fractions and from commercial soy isolate (CSI). Tensile strength (TS), elongation at break (E), water vapor permeability (WVP), total soluble matter (TSM), protein solubility (PS), and Hunter L, a, and b color values of these films were determined. The 11S films had greater TS than 7S films (P < 0.05), while LSI films had greater TS than CSI films (P < 0.05). No significant differences were detected among mean E values and among mean WVP values of all films (P > 0.05). The 7S films had higher TSM and PS values than 11S films (P < 0.05). CSI films were significantly darker (lower L value) and more yellow (greater positive b value) than LSI films (P < 0.05).

Go to article

Films From Laboratory-Extracted Sorghum Kafirin, Roberto A. Buffo, Curtis L. Weller, Aristippos Gennadios Jan 1997

Films From Laboratory-Extracted Sorghum Kafirin, Roberto A. Buffo, Curtis L. Weller, Aristippos Gennadios

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

There has been increased interest in development of biopolymer films and coatings from protein, polysaccharide, and lipid materials in recent years. The qualities of renewability, degradability, compostability, and edibility make such films particularly appealing for food and nonfood packaging applications. Moreover, wide commercialization of biopolymer films will provide a value-added innovative use for traditional agricultural commodities as sources of film-forming materials. Research findings on production, properties, and potential applications of edible films have been reviewed (Krochta 1992, Conca and Yang 1993, Gontard and Guilbert 1994). Protein films in particular have been discussed in detail by Gennadios et al (1994a) and …

Go to article

Nutrient, Carbon, And Mass Loss During Composting Of Beef Cattle Feedlot Manure, Bahman Eghball, James F. Power, John E. Gilley, John W. Doran Jan 1997

Nutrient, Carbon, And Mass Loss During Composting Of Beef Cattle Feedlot Manure, Bahman Eghball, James F. Power, John E. Gilley, John W. Doran

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Quantification of nutrient and mass loss during composting is needed to understand the composting process, to implement methods for nutrient conservation, and to reduce potential adverse environmental impact. Beef cattle feedlot manure was composted in a windrow on an open concrete area in 1992, 1993, and 1994 to determine the amounts of nutrient, C, and mass loss during composting. The area was enclosed on all sides with a 0.2 m high metal sheet to direct runoff to a fiberglass tank (4000 L) during rainfall. Nutrients in runoff represented combined runoff and leaching losses. Nutrients, C, and mass loss during composting …

Go to article

Monoclonal Antibody Assay And Kit For Detecting Metal Cations In Body Fluids, Randall R. Carlson, Jay S. Stout, Dwane E. Wylie, Fred W. Wagner, Malcolm Riddell Jul 1996

Monoclonal Antibody Assay And Kit For Detecting Metal Cations In Body Fluids, Randall R. Carlson, Jay S. Stout, Dwane E. Wylie, Fred W. Wagner, Malcolm Riddell

Biological Process Development Facility: Staff Publications

The invention provides method and kits for detecting a metallic cation in a sample of a body fluid. The preferred method and kits include the use of at least two different types of antibodies having different specificities. In the preferred method, the sample of body fluid can be contacted with an effective amount of a capture antibody specific for a naturally occurring polypeptide that can bind the metallic cation to form a first antigen-antibody complex. An effective amount of an antibody specific for an epitope on a metallic cation-naturally occurring polypeptide complex or an antibody specific for a metallic cation …

Go to article

Effect Of Screw Configuration And Speed On Rtd And Expansion Of Rice Extrudate, Siew-Yoong Lee, Kathryn L. Mccarthy May 1996

Effect Of Screw Configuration And Speed On Rtd And Expansion Of Rice Extrudate, Siew-Yoong Lee, Kathryn L. Mccarthy

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The influence of screw configuration and screw speed on the residence time distribution and product expansion was determined for rice meal processed in a corotating twin screw extruder. Screw speed had strong effect on the E(t)- and F(t)-diagrams, with the mean residence time varying inversely with screw speed from 206 s to 256 s. the F-diagram was modeled by the combination of perfect mixing and plug flow. the P estimates, which express the fraction of material in plug flow, varied inversely with screw speed from 0.41 to 0.55 for the operating conditions in this study. Both screw configuration and screw …

Go to article

Development Of A Biologically Based Aerobic Composting Simulation Model, Dennis P. Stombaugh, Sue E. Nokes Jan 1996

Development Of A Biologically Based Aerobic Composting Simulation Model, Dennis P. Stombaugh, Sue E. Nokes

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

A relatively simple dynamic model based on microbial process kinetics has been developed for aerobic composting. Differential equations describing microbial, substrate, and oxygen concentrations, as well as moisture and temperature profiles have been derived as a function of vessel size and aeration rate. Microbial biomass growth was described using Monod growth kinetics as a function of degradable substrate concentration, oxygen concentration, moisture content, and compost temperature. Facility and fan operating costs have been included to permit economic optimization of the process. Predicted results demonstrated the ability of the model to quantify and describe the influence of multiple interacting factors (temperature, …

Go to article

Grazing And Haying Effects On Runoff And Erosion From A Former Conservation Reserve Program Site, John E. Gilley, B. D. Patton, P. E. Nyren, J. R. Simanton Jan 1996

Grazing And Haying Effects On Runoff And Erosion From A Former Conservation Reserve Program Site, John E. Gilley, B. D. Patton, P. E. Nyren, J. R. Simanton

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Grazing and haying effects on runoff and erosion from a former Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) site near Streeter, North Dakota, were determined. Treatments included undisturbed CRP, twice-over rotational grazing, season-long grazing, haying, and burning. Runoff and erosion were measured from simulated rainfall which was applied to 3.7 x 10.7 m (12.0 X 35.1 ft) plots. Following an initial stabilization period, no significant difference in runoff or erosion was found between the season-long grazing and burned treatments. Use of the CRP site for grazing or haying resulted in a significant increase in runoff compared to leaving the area in an undisturbed …

Go to article

Frequency Domain Image Analysis For Detecting Stress Cracks In Corn Kernels, Y. J. Han, Y. Feng, Curtis L. Weller Jan 1996

Frequency Domain Image Analysis For Detecting Stress Cracks In Corn Kernels, Y. J. Han, Y. Feng, Curtis L. Weller

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

A corn kernel classification procedure was developed in the frequency domain using a two-dimensional Fourier Transform for inspection of stress cracks. Investigations were also conducted to define suitable conditions and optimum image resolution for viewing stress cracks in corn kernels using a computer vision system. A pre-processing procedure included contrast enhancement, edge enhancement, and kernel edge elimination to improve stress crack recognition. A Fast Fourier Transform algorithm was applied to the pre-processed images, and the transformation results were condensed into 33 feature signatures representing position or orientation invariant morphological features. A multivariate discriminant analysis and multiple regression analysis were used …

Go to article

Heat Curing Of Soy Protein Films, A. Gennadios, V. M. Ghorpade, Curtis L. Weller, M. A. Hanna Jan 1996

Heat Curing Of Soy Protein Films, A. Gennadios, V. M. Ghorpade, Curtis L. Weller, M. A. Hanna

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Modification of soy protein film properties by heat-curing was studied. Glycerin-plasticized films were cast from alkaline aqueous solutions of soy protein isolate. Films were heated at 80 or 95°C for 2, 6, 14, or 24 h. Tensile strength (TS), elongation at break (E), moisture content (MC), water solubility (WS), water vapor permeability (WVP), and color of heated and control films were measured. Heated films had increased TS and +b (yellowness) Hunter color values and reduced E, MC, WS, and WVP values. These effects were enhanced as heating time and temperature increased.

Go to article

Does Junk Dna Regulate Gene Expression In Humans, M. A. Hulten, Michael W. Stacey, S. J. Armstrong Jan 1995

Does Junk Dna Regulate Gene Expression In Humans, M. A. Hulten, Michael W. Stacey, S. J. Armstrong

Bioelectrics Publications

No abstract provided.

Go to article

First Prev Next Last