Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering Commons^™

Growing Plants On The Moon: How Mizuna Roots And Organic Matter Spark Microbial Metabolism, Stefani Capasso Villanueva, Nupur Kulkarni

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Establishing functional plant–microbe systems in extraterrestrial substrates is critical for sustainable lunar agriculture. We tested whether manure amendment and Mizuna mustard (Brassica rapa var. japonica) rhizosphere activity enhance the metabolic potential of a lunar regolith simulant (LHS-1). Plants were grown in four treatments: Unplanted manure-amended regolith (LRM), planted manure-amended regolith (LRMP), planted unamended regolith (LRP), and soil controls. Plant height and community-level physiological profiles (CLPP; Biolog EcoPlates) were measured to assess growth and metabolic diversity. Mizuna grew best in soil, with modest improvements in LRMP compared to LRP, though regolith treatment differences were not statistically significant. CLPP revealed the highest …

Harvesting Modulation In Three Species Food Chains Using A Robust Control Approach, Hector Puebla, Mariana Rodriguez-Jara, Priti Kumar Roy

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Optimal And Robust Control Problems Of Microalgae Cultivation, Mariana Rodriguez-Jara, Luis A. Ricardez-Sandoval, Carlos E. Ramirez-Castelan, Hector Puebla

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Design Of A Virtual Lab For Plate Heat Exchanger Sterilization System, Daniel N. Hauersperger

Graduate Industrial Research Symposium

Online learning has become a staple in contemporary education, requiring new ways to display and promote experiences. Virtual labs can be used to give learners a way to enter a lab environment without the need for expensive equipment or materials. One example is to give students a “hands-on” experience using a sterilization process to preserve biological materials. Sterilization systems incorporate heat exchangers to bring product up to temperature and then cool product down quickly to prevent excess degradation of nutrients. Data generated from virtual labs will allow learners to use the system responses and build their understanding of how the …

Comprehensive Microenvironment Monitoring For The Productivity And Welfare Of Sows And Piglets, Jun Ho Kim

Graduate Industrial Research Symposium

The world is facing increasing food demand and climate change. To improve piglet survivability and sow welfare through microenvironment management using precision technology, a USDA sponsored research project started in 2021 and is ongoing. A comprehensive yet low-cost system was designed and developed for continuous and real-time microenvironment monitoring in three rooms of Farrowing Building #1 at the Animal Sciences Research and Education Center, Purdue University. The system consists of two gas analyzers and 103 different sensors, including sensors in a weather station. The first trial of the project was conducted from Jan. 13 to Feb. 8, 2023, when the …

The Next-Gen Crop Nutrient Stress Identification With High-Precision Sensing Technology In Digital Agriculture, Zhihang Song, Ziling Chen, Xing Wei, Jian Jin

Graduate Industrial Research Symposium

Crop yields are facing significant losses from nutrient deficiencies. Over-fertilizing also has negative economic and environmental impacts. It is challenging to optimize fertilizing without an accurate diagnosis. Recently, plant phenotyping has demonstrated outstanding capabilities in estimating crop traits. As one of the leading technologies, LeafSpec, provides high-quality crop image data for improving phenotyping quality. In this study, novel algorithms are developed for LeafSpec to identify crop nutrient deficiencies more accurately. Combined with UAV system, this technology will bring growers a robust solution for fertilizing diagnosis and scientific crop management.

Barn Considerations For Cash Hay Operations, Morgan D. Hayes

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

A well designed and built a barn can be invaluable for cash hay operation. Barn provide opportunity to reduce losses in dry matter and help maintain quality throughout the winter. There are numerous styles of barns that hay producers can purchase or build themselves. Wood frame structures, often with metal roofs and metal sides, are fairly common. You can also build barns with a steel structure with or without metal siding on the walls. Hoop barns are another common hay storage structure - particularly common with round bale storage. All, however, provide valuable storage for hay. There are four areas …

Catalytic Deoxygenation Of Model And Realistic Feeds To Fuel-Like Hydrocarbons Over Supported Nickel-Copper Catalysts, Deyshon Ward, Kazi Javed

Posters-at-the-Capitol

The goal was to make a renewable fuel by using catalysts to remove oxygen molecules from fats. This is a current issue that society faces today because nonrenewable fossil fuels hurt the environment more than they help it. There are two components that make up a heterogeneous catalyst, a support and a reduced metal active phase. The active metal phases Nickel, Palladium, Platinum have been studied in the past on an alumina and carbon supports. We were investigating other supports using Nickel as the active phase component to determine the effect the support has on the catalyst removing oxygen of …

Evaluation Of Pm Emissions Of A Diesel Engine Fueled With Waste Cooking Oil Biodiesel: A Systematic Review, Omobolanle H. Oshinusi, George M. Gray

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background: The Navigation Guide developed by Johnson et al was used to conduct a robust systematic review of six experimental intervention studies looking at particulate matter (PM)emissions from conventional petroleum diesel and a biodiesel alternative utilizing waste cooking oil in heavy-duty petroleum diesel engines. Waste cooking oil biodiesel is thought to be a more sustainably sourced alternative to its fossil fuel counterpart.

Objectives: Application of the Navigation Guide systematic review methodology to answer the question: Does the replacement of petroleum diesel with waste cooking oil biodiesel reduce hazardous PMemissions? Methods: The study question was specified, evidence was selected and the …

Performance Results Of Using Waste Vegetable Oil Based Biodiesel Fuel In A Turboshaft Gas Turbine Engine, Donald Bartlett 5218591, Blaine M. Heisner

ASA Multidisciplinary Research Symposium

The purpose of this research is to record and compare the operating parameters of a turboshaft gas turbine engine using two different blends of biodiesel fuel and the standard Jet A fuel.

Evaluation Of Physical - Chemical Contaminants In Lumbardhi River In Prizren For The Period May - June 2017, Gashi Sami, Bajmaku Ymerr, Besar Veseli, Drini Petrit

UBT International Conference

This paper covers the monitoring of water pollution in the river basin from the source to the White Drin flow monitoring the river flow both in the rural and urban areas of water quality. The biggest problem in environmental protection is the quality of surface water. The results from the analysis of the study will serve to know the pollution from these physical-chemical parameters and at the same time to manage the eco-status in order to prevent negative trends and create a desirable balancing of so important the ecosystem as it is the system consist of Lumbardhi River, with biodiversity …

Monitoring Of Air Quality In The Urban And Industrial Areas In Kosovo, Besa Veseli, Sami Gashi, Shkumbin Shala

UBT International Conference

Environmental pollution has a direct or indirect effect, and is mainly caused by human activity or environmental processes that have harmful effects in the environment and human life.In Kosovo the air pollution in Kosovo is quite evident in the industrial areas. The power plant of KEK (TCA and TCB), from the Cement Factory and ferronickel etc.

In the vast majority of cases, the pollution is caused by the emission of sulfur dioxide (SO2), azotes (NOx), ozone, lead and other heavy metals, such as carbon monoxide (CO), dust, PM10,PM2,5 and steamy organic components.

The aim of this inquiry is to study …

Improving Efficiency, Reduction Of Pollution And Co2 Emission From Power Plant Kosovo, Afrim Syla

UBT International Conference

In recent years, global warming has been a major issue due to continuous growth of greenhouse gas emissions from different sources. Earth’s atmosphere is composed of a variety of chemical compounds that act as greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is of primary concern due to growing global emissions in recent history. Since the expansion of coal use during the industrial revolution and the expansion of petroleum use during the 20th century, CO2 emissions have risen steadily.

The major factor in Kosovo’s political, social, and economic life today is the development and social sustainability. The biggest challenge for Kosovo remains the …

Evaluation Of The Ereniku River Waters In The Locations Where The Lukac River Flows, Faton Maloku, Luan Daija, Xhelal Këpuska

UBT International Conference

The fate and transport of many anthropogenic pollutants have an impact not only on hydrological cycles, but also on physico-chemical processes.Water resource monitoring will assess the quality of water, identify its depreciation, and help policymakers make decisions that will preserve not only natural areas but also improve quality of life.Therefore the purpose of this paper is to evaluate the physical and chemical parameters of the locations where the river Lukac flows into the Erenik river. Erenik is a river in the western part of Kosovo.The water quality of the Ereniku river comes from anthropogenic activities, mainly from sewage discharges, from …

Economic Aspect Of The Electricity Production In Subsidiary Mpc Oslomej, Imer Zenku

UBT International Conference

The need to increase the production of electricity in the Subsidiary MPC Oslomej (Mining Power Complex-Oslomej), which operates as part of JSC ELEM (Macedonian Power Plants), 100% state owned company, represents a significant economic activity.

Therefore, the analysis in this paper focuses and aims at the economic aspect of the current electricity production, that is, the impact of the expenditures of the Subsidiary on the price of electricity produced by ELEM JSC, a price also regulated by the Energy Regulatory Commission of the Republic of Macedonia (ERC).

This shall draw attention to the necessity to timely prepare and adjust the …

Applying A Revised Approach Of Fuzzy Cognitive Maps On A Hybrid Electrical Energy System, Ekavi Antoniou, Eleni S. Vergini, Peter P. Groumpos

UBT International Conference

Complex systems modeling is a rapidly developing research field which incorporates various scientific sectors from bio medicine and energy to economic and social sciences. However, as the systems’ complexity increases pure mathematical modeling techniques prove to be a rather laborious task which demands wasting many resources and in many occasions, could not lead to the desired system response. This realization led researchers turn their attention into the field of computational intelligence; Neural Networks and Fuzzy Logic etc. In this way scientists were able to provide a model of a system which is strongly characterized by fuzziness and uncertainties. Fuzzy Cognitive …

An Overview Of Zero Energy Buildings With An Emphasis On Energy Savings, Lazaros Aygeris, Peter P. Groumpos

UBT International Conference

The indiscriminate exploitation of the planet's energy sources has nowadays led to an uncontrolled form of climate change, with negative consequences for both humankind and the environment. In an effort to curb this situation, energy savings in both the building sector and other sectors of activity (industry, transport, etc.) is a primary objective and an indispensable component of any energy policy been planned today all around the world. As the building sector consumes 40% of the energy required at European level, the European Union (EU) has made considerable efforts to significantly reduce these consumption levels. In recent years, the European …

Wind Turbine Technology Enables Sustainable Development Of Electricity In Kosovo, Vehebi Sofiu

UBT International Conference

The requirements of the EU directives for the renewable energy market, in particular wind turbines, enable sustainable development to meet the requirements for electricity generation. Global changes and environmental disasters resulting from industrial pollution do not allow a sustainable development of alternative natural resource exploitation. Balkan states and Kosovo are obliged to increase energy efficiency, to increase the discipline related to flow of fossil fuel emissions, which means less CO2 and greenhouse gases, and to advance the renewable energies by 20% up to 2020. Wind generation turbines are used to transform energy from a rotational mechanical action to generate electricity. …

Smart Grid Operation: A Survey, Kozeta Sevrani, Romina Muka

UBT International Conference

Creation of Smart Grid meets the energy requirements of the 21stcentury in a high-tech manner with real time approach by providing asignificant improvement in power reliability and services, and integrating thelatest digital communications in the current power grid. This grid improves theability of consumers and utilities to monitor, control, and predict the use ofenergy. Up to the present time, Smart Grid has involved numerous researchersfrom different viewpoints. This paper provides an extensive literature review ofSmart Grid technologies and its characteristics. There are a lot of problems andchallenges in the field of Smart Grid. Therefore, this paper can help to find …

Using Of Hvdc Technology In Super Grids, Ines Bula, Valmira Hoxha, Edin Bula

UBT International Conference

This paper describes the HVDC system, its organization, as well as advantages over the AC system. Implementation of this system will help to make Europe sustainable energy independent which will require a renewable generation portfolio where much of this portfolio will be fueled by wind and will be developed offshore as it is presented in this paper. To deliver this energy to European consumers will require the development of a high capacity transmission system the so called Supergrid, which will be capable of delivering this energy to Europe's load centers. In this paper also is presented, a DC connection of …

Assessment Of The Ecosystem Services Of Rain Gardens, Hannah M. Hawrot, Dr. Sara Mcmillan, Rachel Scarlett

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces contributes to degradation of urban stream ecosystems. Impacts include increased flooding, water quality impairment, and disruption of habitats. Rain gardens are a type of green infrastructure designed to mitigate the adverse effects of stormwater runoff by promoting evapotranspiration, reducing peak flows, and retaining pollutants. Rain gardens can provide additional ecosystem services, defined as benefits that ecosystems provide to people. This includes, but is not limited to, increasing biodiversity by providing habitat, creating green spaces for recreation, and storing carbon. To date, little research has been done integrating these multiple services. My research measured water quality, …

Characterization Of High Oleic Acid Biodiesel: Improving Biofuel Properties, James M. Muskat, Nathan Mosier

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

In 2016, the world produced an amount of biofuel equivalent to 82,306,000 tonnes of oil. A portion of the biofuels produced was categorized as biodiesel. While still growing as a fuel alternative, current biodiesel fuels are at risk for causing increased engine coking, lower engine performance and durability, oil ring sticking, carbon deposits, and gelling of lubricating oil. Due to these primary issues, biodiesel cannot completely replace petroleum diesel as a fuel source. Instead, biodiesel is commonly blended with petroleum diesel at 5% and 20% (B5 and B20) in the U.S. to create a mixture that has acceptable fuel properties. …

Development Of Portable Hyperspectral Imaging Device, Chenxi Li, Youngkee Jung, Iyll-Joon Doh, Euiwon Bae

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Most of the conventional hyperspectral imaging devices require sophisticated optical components, occupy a large footprint, and requires an initial capital investment for laboratories which mostly suits for laboratories benchtop system. The requirement of shipping the sample and waiting an extended period of time to get the results are the main downsides of this traditional approach. Capitalize in many specific field applications and diagnosis, portable devices provide both convenience and on-site results which are desirable for government agencies and food safety inspectors. This project was aimed to develop a low-cost, portable hyperspectral device for food safety applications. A smartphone was used …

Development Of A Water Quality Status And Trend Detection Tool*, Ruchir Aggarwal, Valeria Mijares, Margaret W. Gitau

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Water Quality Index (WQI) models have been developed since the early 1970s. They present a means by which water quality status and trends can be compared across time and space on the basis of a composite value computed using existing water quality data. There is a need for a tool that can bring the different water quality parameters together and calculate the WQIs so as to facilitate data use in predictive modeling and water quality management. We are developing a software tool that can be used by water quality managers and others with different technical backgrounds to calculate WQI of …

Analysis Of The Flow Behaviors Of Corn Meal During Extrusion, Daniel N. Hauersperger, Martin R. Okos, Troy Tonner

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Food extrusion can be used to make many products we consume today, including pasta, cereals and more. The ability to predict the characteristics of the final product from an extruder using raw material characteristics and operating conditions is vital to the extrusion process. In order to answer this need, the flow behavior of corn meal was measured in a lab viscometer (off-line) and compared to the flow behaviors from an extruder (in-line) at three different moisture contents (32.5%, 35%, 37.5% wet basis). The extruder and product are heated through the friction of the corn meal passing through the barrel not …

The Effects Of Compaction On Reconstitution Characteristics Of Dairy Powder, Michelle P. Dixon, Rose Prabin Kingsly Ambrose, Dhananjay Ashok Pai

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Milk powders are becoming more ubiquitous within the food industry, and they offer consumers a convenient form for direct intake of dairy. The costs associated with dairy are reduced when products are converted to powder, which markedly increases shelf life at ambient temperatures. Creating compacts from powders further improves cost efficiency by reducing volume. However, milk powders typically possess poor rehydration properties, such as a slow dispersion rate and low solubility, and powder compaction additionally prolongs rehydration time, reducing consumer acceptability. Previous studies have shown that modifying dairy products before or during the drying process can improve rehydration properties, but …

Testing Effectiveness Of Aqueous Phases From Struvite And Hydroxyapatite Mineral Precipitation As Algal Nutrient Sources, Aaron Lyons

Virginias Collegiate Honors Council Conference

As interest in algal biofuel grows, the need to explore diverse nutrient sources for growing algae becomes apparent. Struvite and Hydroxyapatite (HAP) were precipitated after flash hydrolysis. The leftover aqueous phase (AP) could serve as nutrients source for algae cultivation and the potential reuse of this waste stream is promising. To test this, 12 bottles of Scenedemus sp., four of Struvite, four of HAP, and four control AM-14 synthetic media were cultivated. 10% of the Phosphorus in the synthetic media was replaced with phosphorous from the struvite AP, and 10% of the nitrogen in the synthetic media was replaced …

Plant Phenotyping On Mobile Devices, Ziling Chen, Jian Jin, Zhihang Song, Jialei Wang

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Plants phenotyping is a fast and non-destructive method to obtain the physiological features of plants, compared with the expensive and time costing chemical analysis with plant sampling. Through plant phenotyping, scientists and farmers can tell plant health status more accurately compared to visual inspection, thus avoid the waste in time and resources and even to predict the productivity. However, the size and price of current plant phenotyping equipment restrict them from being widely applied at a farmer’s household level. Everyday field operation is barely achieved because of the availability of easy-to-carry and cost-effective equipment such as hyper-spectrum cameras, infrared cameras …

Exploring Regional And Telecoupled Land Use Change Impacts From Environmental Shocks, Kevin Hill, Liz Wachs, Brady Hardiman, David Yu, Shweta Singh

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Natural disasters or environmental shocks have the potential to disrupt local agricultural systems as well as distant agricultural systems through cascading effects. In this work we selected two distinct environmental shocks and traced their cascading effects on land use change. Quantifying cascading effects is a salient issue because climate change forecasts indicate an increase in frequency and intensity of global environmental shocks. This study incorporated the concept of telecoupled systems involving interrelating ecological, economic and political/social components. A telecoupled framework involving cascading effects was implemented using three approaches. The first approach involved using bilateral agricultural trade matrix data to analyze …

Gdd(Growth Degree Day) Module For Vinsense Visual Analytics System, Pradeep K. Lam, David Ebert , Phd, Jiawei Zhang

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Limited resources and increasing costs require vineyards to develop optimized methods of planting, growing, and harvesting crops in order to ensure max yield and stay competitive in the marketplace. Data from sensors planted within the soil paired with weather reports and observation data from farmers could help develop competitive farming strategies. While automatic computation models are usually a black box that cannot explain how the input data are transformed into output, the farmers require an approach that allows them to interactively manipulate and supervise the computation process. The VinSense project was developed for this purpose. In this paper, we focus …