Resource: Engineering & Technology for a Sustainable World articles from March 2002

Resource: Engineering & Technology for a Sustainable World archives from March 2002

Device that reduces poultry dust has added benefit. (Update).(electrostatic system also controls airborne pathogens)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... An electrostatic system that reduces airborne dust and microorganisms in poultry houses could also help sterilize Salmonella and other pathogenic bacteria in the dust, USDA Agricultural Research Service scientists report. That is an added...

Plastics made from soy may dampen sound and vibration. (Update).(Iowa State University research)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Chemists with the Center for Crops Utilization Research at Iowa State University are developing unique plastics based on soybean oil. The Iowa Soybean Promotion Board (ISPB) has funded the research by chemistry faculty Richard Larock and...

Insect bites on plants reduce photosynthesis. (Update).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2002... When insects feed on plants, they get nourishment and the plant gets damaged. The amount of damage has taken on new light, thanks to a new photosynthesis-measuring device that illuminates and photographs never-before-seen injury extending far...

Biogas progressing as energy alternative. (Update).(Brian Sexton, Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Engineering advancements in biogas generation technology could make liquid and semi-solid manure produced on farms a feasible source of heat and electricity, says Brian Sexton, a project manager with Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural...

Purdue researchers unlocking enhanced growth in pigs. (Update).(Purdue University ractopomine hydrochloride research)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Purdue University researchers are unlocking possible ways to extend the benefits of a feed additive that makes pigs meatier. Ractopamine hydrochloride is an effective and popular supplement, but it begins to lose its effectiveness seven to...

Water extraction process can increase safety, decrease costs. (Update).(may replace industrial solvents in pharmaceutical and food processing)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Water can replace solvents in food and pharmaceutical processing, reducing costs and eliminating the environmental problems associated with some industrial solvents, according to University of Arkansas researchers. Ed Clausen, professor of...

Water buffalo dairy program launched. (Update).(University of Florida research)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... Mozzarella cheese made from cow's milk? Traditional Italian mozzarella -- the soft, elastic cheese commonly associated with pizza and pasta dishes -- is made with water buffalo milk. University of Florida (UF) experts say a new effort to...

Faster way to improve wheat. (Update).(United States Department of Agriculture genetic research)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Molecular markers that can speed up wheat breeding to improve quality and disease resistance traits have been found by USDA Agricultural Research Service scientists. The long-term goal of research geneticist Gina Brown-Guedira and...

Technology speeds up data movement. (Update).(fiber optics in semiconductor research)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... By using light beams in place of metal wires, engineers at The Johns Hopkins University say they have devised a cost-effective way to speed up the way microchips "talk" to each other. The method takes advantage of unusual characteristics...

Tackling terrorism: Engineers help equip first responders to perform their best.(Abstract)
March 1, 2002... Since the Sept. 11, attacks on the United States, law enforcement agencies, firefighters and other first responders are more than ever being asked to deal with the aftermath of terrorism. As these teams dig through the rubble of destroyed...

Sliced peanut butter: Developers call it the best thing since sliced bread.(Abstract)
March 1, 2002... Peanut butter is big business in the United States. Makers of the creamy/crunchy spread report combined annual sales exceeding $1 billion and more than 5 percent average yearly sales growth. While peanut butter has become a mainstay in the...

Lifetime of lessons: Agricultural engineer stirred controversy in farming, business world.(Abstract)
March 1, 2002... Expelled from high school three times -- but president of seven student clubs. A multi-state land speculator twice featured on the cover of the Wall Street Journal. A self-made millionaire six years out of college who filed for bankruptcy...

Powder problems: Improved devices help keep particulates flowing.(Abstract)
March 1, 2002... Throughout the world, powder flow problems occur in agricultural production and food processing plants that handle materials in particulate form. Flow stoppages and irregularities lead to frequent, long down times that pose economic...

Increased Research and Development funding predicted. (Business Briefs).(Abstract)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Total research and development (R&D) expenditures in the United States are expected to increase about 3.5 percent to $285.6 billion in 2002, Battelle-R&D Magazine predicts. The report suggests there are three main factors influencing...

Caterpillar Inc. and AGCO Corp. make pact for MT tractor production. (Business Briefs).(Abstract)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Caterpillar Inc. and Georgia-based agricultural equipment manufacturer and distributor AGCO Corp. have signed an agreement for AGCO to acquire the design, assembly and marketing of the new MT Series of Caterpillar's Challenger[R] high-tech farm...

Funding available for biobased research. (Business Briefs).(Abstract)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Industrial Technologies (DOE OIT) Forest Products Industry of the Future program has issued its fiscal year 2003 solicitation. The funding targets industries that develop high-value raw materials...

Organic fiber product sales grow. (Business Briefs).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... U.S. and Canadian organic fiber product manufacturers have experienced 22 percent annual sales growth over the past five years, the Organic Trade Association's (OTA) 2001 Manufacturers' Market Survey shows. Non-clothing items, such as...

AgraQuest licenses natural fumigant. (Business Briefs).(Abstract)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... AgraQuest Inc. of Davis, Calif., recently announced the exclusive licensing of Muscodor albus (M. albus) and related strains for use as an all-natural fumigant. AgraQuest is a biotechnology company that focuses on discovering, developing,...

Novus International Inc. and ATOFINA to build MMP plant. (Business Briefs). (3-methylthiopropionaldehyde (MMP)).(Abstract)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The boards of directors of Novus International Inc. and ATOFINA have approved plans to build a 3-methylthiopropionaldehyde (MMP) cooperative project at the ATOFINA facility in Beaumont, Texas. The plant will be owned by Novus and operated...

Animal production and environmental issues -- www.ktbl.de/umwelt/recht/chile/tieremission.htm. (New on the Net).(Brief Article)(Abstract)
March 1, 2002... Presentations are available from this recent international symposium in Santiago, Chile. They cover environmental technologies for manure management of pigs, poultry, dairy and beef in confinement systems. Technologies include air quality, land...

Ecological footprint quiz -- www.redefiningprogress.org. (New on the Net).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... This site measures individual impact on the planet. The Ecological Footprint Quiz asks questions about food choices, transportation use and housing. Answers are tallied to determine the impact of a person living in the United States, based on...

Did you ever wonder? -- www.lbl.gov/wonder. (New on the Net).(Brief Article)(Abstract)
March 1, 2002... Each month, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, Calif., features Berkeley lab researchers who investigate human health and the environment, new technologies and nature's fundamental principles. Links give more details and...

Equipment buyers look to Web for business. (Business Briefs).(Abstract)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... In the near future, construction equipment buyers will turn to the Internet more often for product purchases and support, an Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) survey shows. AEM's "Doing Business with Manufacturers" survey...

Canada commits to cleaner small engines. (Business Briefs).(Abstract)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The Canadian government plans to invest more than $9 million to help LPP Manufacturing Inc. of Guelph, Ontario, develop cleaner-running small gasoline engines to reduce smog and greenhouse gases. The project is expected to create 720 jobs...

New energy options sought by National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). (Business Briefs).(Abstract)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will conduct three research projects totaling $2.8 million for a program that aims to advance renewable energy. The awards are part of NREL's effort to find new...

Getting connected. (Business Briefs).(Abstract)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Getting connected Below is a list of various technologies and how long it took for each to reach 50 million people. Technology Years Radio 38 Television 13 Cable Television 10 Internet ...

Water treatment chemical market to grow. (Business Briefs).(Abstract)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Demand for water management chemicals in the United States is forecast to increase 5 percent per year to $4.3 billion in 2005, a study by The Freedonia Group Inc. shows. The Freedonia Group, a Cleveland-based industrial market research...

Wind energy industry surpasses record. (Business Briefs).(Abstract)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The U.S. wind energy industry installed 1,694 megawatts of new generating equipment in 2001 -- more than double its 1999 record for single-year installations. The Washington, D.C.-based American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) reports that...

China's agriculture policy to focus on food quality. (Business Briefs).(Abstract)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... A new USDA Economic Research Service report, "China: Agriculture in Transition," focuses on long-term expectations for China's agriculture based on continued growth and openness to trade. The report predicts that China's demand for...

Nortrax Inc. consolidates U.S. operations. (Business Briefs).(Abstract)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Nortrax Inc. recently announced it has consolidated operations with Nortrax II to form John Deere's largest construction and forestry division dealer organization. The company will continue to be jointly owned by CSFB Private Equity and...

Global commitment. (Business Briefs).(Abstract)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... "While AGGO produces products made of iron and steel, our company is much more than a shiny new tractor or tillage tool. Our family of employees and dealers, both in the United States and throughout the world, stand in firm support of human...

Department heads named at Iowa State and Texas A and M Universities. (Inside ASAE).(Abstract)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... ASAE members Ramesh S. Kanwar of Iowa State University (ISU) and Gerald L. Riskowski of Texas A&M University have been appointed department heads at their universities. Kanwar was appointed chairman of the agricultural and biosystems...

ASAE (American Society of Association Executives) Sections. (A Word from the President).(Abstract)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... ASAE President R. Wayne Skaggs, North Carolina State University "What exactly is ASAE?" the flight attendant asked. We were on a flight to the western part of the country and he was looking at the words "Florida Section of the ASAE"...

AMC (Agricultural Machinery Conference) Highlights power of agriculture. (Inside ASAE).(Abstract)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The 17th annual Agricultural Machinery Conference (AMC) will be held May 6 through 8, 2002 at the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This year's theme is "The Power of Agriculture," which reflects on the continuing...

Why do meetings cost so much? (Inside ASAE).(Abstract)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Things have changed considerably over the years in the meeting industry. By discussing some of the hurdles involved in organizing a meeting, I hope that members will have a better understanding of how Society monies are spent and how...

Preprofessionals. (Inside ASAE).(Abstract)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Apply Now ASAE offers the following preprofessional scholarships, awards and competitions. You may apply to more than one scholarship as long as all requirements are met. Only one scholarship will be granted to any one student per academic...

Member news. (Inside ASAE).(Abstract)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Larry W. Turner, P.E., has been named the University of Kentucky (UK) associate director and associate dean for extension. His appointment was effective Jan. 2. Turner is a 23-year veteran of the UK College of Agriculture. He will lead the...

ASAE ( American Society of Association Executives) Fellow Albert V. Krewatch. (Inside ASAE).(Abstract)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... ASAE Fellow Albert V. Krewatch was honored for 70 years of membership in ASAE at a reception held in October in Seaford, Del. ASAE member Bill Ritter, chair of NABEC, presented him with a 70-year ASAE membership certificate. Krewatch...

In memoriam. (Inside ASAE).(Abstract)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Arthur J. Immesoete, 89, of Mineral, Ill., died Jan. 17, 2002. He was a member of ASAE for 44 years. Immesoete worked as a project engineer for John Deere and Co., starting in January 1935. He spent five years in Argentina and nine years...

ASAE Online.(American Society of Agricultural Engineers)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2002... Career help The hunt for a first job, new job or college internship can be a daunting, time-consuming task for those in the busy agricultural, biological, food and related systems engineering fields. But take heart, a new ASAE Web page...

ERDAS and LH Systems. (From the Manufacturers).(mapping and geographic information system solutions by Leica Geosystems Inc.)(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2002... ERDAS and LH Systems are expanded products offered in four ranges of GIS and mapping solutions -- airborne data acquisition, geographic imaging, GPS/GIS, and land information systems. Airborne sensors, field data collectors, work stations and...

Series VPS valve position sensor. (From the Manufacturers).(by Dwyer Instruments Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Series VPS Valve Position Sensor has a waterproof plastic, corrosion-resistant housing acceptable for wash down requirements. The sensor has two independent LEDs and a bright flow line indicator to provide local visual indication. A standard...

Model NH-PX series inert magnetic drive pumps. (From the Manufacturers).(by Clark Solutions)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Model NH-PX Series Inert Magnetic Drive Pumps are brushless DC pumps featuring an all-inert pump housing and impeller. They offer a standard wear-resistant ceramic shaft and bearings with a sealless magnetic coupler. The pumps are available in...

Spectrum Technologies Inc. (From the Manufacturers).(soil moisture probe, Field Scout TDR 300)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Field Scout[TM] TDR 300 soil moisture probe is portable, allowing the user to gather information at several points across the field for a more comprehensive and accurate assessment of irrigation needs. The TDR 300 features an LCD display of...

Ductile Iron Marketing Group. (From the Manufacturers).(Cast It/Cast it in Ductile Iron)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... New CD-ROM offers design engineers information on the benefits of metal casting and ductile iron casting processes. "Cast It" and "Cast It in Ductile Iron" are available in CD format. Ductile iron production techniques and various applications...

QuickCheck II. (From the Manufacturers).(by Cummins)(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2002... QuickCheck II system for handheld devices reads and captures engine transmission and brake system information from electronic diesel engines. QuickCheck II reads fault codes, trip information, engine parameters and data. A range of engine...

Norweco Equipment Co. (From the Manufacturers).(Bio-Dynamic waste water tablet feeders)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... Bio-Dynamic[R] tablet feeders for wastewater chlorination and dechlorination offer 11 models for treating effluent flows ranging from less than 100 gallons per day to 200,000 gallons per day. They feature adjustable inlet baffles, tiered flow...

Federal-Mogul Systems Protection Group. (From the Manufacturers).(Hookit hose and wire sleeving)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Hookit wire and hose sleeving maintains thermal rating, low temperature flexibility and resistance to industrial fluids. It offers an improved self-closing system in which the hook is integrally woven into the material providing easy...

CyberResearch Inc. (From the Manufacturers).(STX 15 Series personal computers in manufacturing industry)(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2002... STX 15 Series PCs are compact, network-ready systems that include a 15-inch color display with optional touch screen. Overall depth is 3.4 inches and the units are equipped with a desktop or bench top stand. The front panel and optional...

Zintek 200. (From the Manufacturers).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Zintek 200 is an inorganic, zink-rich, chrome-free corrosion protective base coat. Techseal WL is an organic topcoat with a PTFE-free lubricant and a new generation low VOC binder system. This system has achieved corrosion protection of more...

Series DCT500. (From the Manufacturers).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Series DCT500 timer controller provides continuous or on-demand cleaning for receivers and pulse jet systems. Available in four, six or 10 channels, each unit is the same size, minimizing enclosure space and reducing overall system installation...

Hydronic Corp. (From the Manufacturers).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... P923 Series pressure generating tools offer reciprocating pumps driven by compressed air. The new range includes seven models covering flows up to 9 grams per minute and pressures up to 1,000 pounds per square inch. Pumps, valves and other...

TTI Inc. (From the Manufacturers).
March 1, 2002... Time Delta S Version 3 clamp-on transit time ultrasonic flow meter technology is a fully automatic transmission method and wave pattern selector based on fluid process properties for measuring flow rate. The unit scans correlation or standard...

Dwyer Instruments Inc. (From the Manufacturers).
March 1, 2002... Series V12 FloTect Flow Switch is mountable in any orientation and uses a free-moving shuttle displaced by the liquid flow activating an isolated sealed reed switch. Applications include monitoring media flow for the pool and spa industry,...

GeoLytics Inc. (From the Manufacturers).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... U.S. Census Bureau data from the 2000 Census are offered in two formats. The data have been compressed to fit on one disk that comes with built-in mapping capabilities based on Census 2000 boundaries. Maps or tables may be generated and data...

Energy experience: Travel leads to a global perspective on the fossil fuel/biomass debate. (Last Word).(Abstract)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... As an agricultural engineer with 56 years of experience working in every country in this hemisphere, all of free Europe, Yugoslavia, Israel and parts of Africa, it is difficult for me to understand why any nation would become so dependent on...