Resource: Engineering & Technology for a Sustainable World articles from May 2003

Resource: Engineering & Technology for a Sustainable World archives from May 2003

ASAE's role in biological engineering.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Welcome to this focus issue of Resource highlighting ASAE's role in biological engineering. No human activity is more biological than agriculture, so it makes sense that the American Society of Agricultural Engineers should be a leader in...

Reader forum.(resources and advice for detecting breast and prostate cancers)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Knowledge is life It has been 18 and 16 years ago, respectively, since we were diagnosed as having the most common malignancy of men, prostate cancer. Because of this we have come to know a number of ASAE colleagues who have been similarly...

Field oven used to cook up alternative to cotton defoliation. (Update).(using heat to kill pests that affect cotton crops)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Baking cotton plants with blasts of air at 121-177[degrees]C (250-350[degrees]F) could provide a fast-acting alternative to chemical defoliants that has the added benefit of toasting insects responsible for sticky, hard-to-process cotton. ...

Pigs like it hot, but not too hot. (Update).(research into the design of the Animal Occupied Zone (AOZ))(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Victor van Wagenberg, A. V.van. Wagenberg The majority of pigs in Europe and North America spend their entire lifetime indoors. To supply the animals with fresh air and thermal comfort, the room in which they live is provided with a...

Fiber optic sensor detects glutamate. (Update).
May 1, 2003... Many food components are biologically active molecules. For example, the amino acid glutamate doesn't just make your cheese taste good; it also functions in your brain to help you taste the cheese. Glutamate is one of the major signaling...

Exploring chicken eating habits for enhanced well-being. (Update).
May 1, 2003... Understanding feeding characteristics of animals is of fundamental value to engineering design and management strategies for enhanced well-being and production efficiency. White Leghorn laying hens have a high tendency of feather pecking and...

Beer flavor monitored by biosensor technology. (Update).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Ever tasted beer that seemed slightly "off," characterized by a butterscotch-like flavor? If you have, it was mostly likely due to a natural compound, called diacetyl, produced by yeast during beer fermentation. With the ability to detect...

New products made from microwave-treated wood. (Update).(Torgvin and Vintrog, products resulting from microwave treatment of wood)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... The drying, strength, durability, dimensional stability, machining, and treatment characteristics of timber are quite variable. In spite of this, many people prefer the natural appearance of wood in favor of the many extensively modified...

Optical imaging for early cancer detection. (Update).
May 1, 2003... Early detection of cancer saves thousands of lives each year. Five-year survival rates for many patients whose cancers are caught early range from 80 to 90 percent. In the fight against this disease, a University of Missouri biological...

Soy heating oil possible alternative. (Update).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Staying warm crosses people's minds when the coldest part of winter approaches. Americans bum nearly 27.6 billion liters (7.3 billion gallons) of heating oil to stay warm in their homes each year, but the cost of petroleum heating oil is...

Re-engineering the milk value chain using bio-sensors. (Focus on Biological Engineering).
May 1, 2003... Dairy farmers around the world share a common problem of declining farm gate prices for their raw milk. Milk buyers are also putting farmers under pressure to achieve constant improvements in milk quality in order to satisfy consumers' growing...

Constructing wetlands to replace rural septic systems. (Focus on Biological Engineering).
May 1, 2003... Households, businesses, and isolated communities that do not have public sewers must utilize on-site treatment systems to manage their wastewater. The most common on-site wastewater treatment system includes a septic tank and soil drain field....

Bringing the sun underground: biophamaceutical crops in mines. (Focus on Biological Engineering).
May 1, 2003... Manitoba Hydro's engineers have designed a lighting system that could benefit world health by lowering the cost of producing and developing drugs that would help millions of people live longer, healthier lives. They have succeeded in bringing...

Plant population vs. plant average: new paradigm of crop simulation modeling. (Focus on Biological Engineering).(computer model COTONS[R] to simulate plant growth and development)
May 1, 2003... Traditional plant architectural models or "visualization models" propose to visually create realistic three-dimensional plants. The visualization is based on field sampling and the application of an algorithm to standardize the 3-D description...

Development of cell-based biosensors. (Focus on Biological Engineering).(to measure the health effects of particle inhalation )
May 1, 2003... Researchers at the University of Arizona are studying a new way to measure the effects of particulate matter ([PM.sub.10] and [PM.sub.25]) and other inhalation hazards on human health. Asthma, emphysema, lung distress, hospital admissions, and...

Sustained release of porcine somatotropin (pST) gene: protein from biocompatible and biodegradable polymeric nanospheres. (Focus on Biological Engineering).
May 1, 2003... Somatotropins are endogenous protein hormones that play important roles in regulating animal growth rate, feed efficiency, and nutrients partitioning. The principal mechanism of somatotropin lies in the partitioning of absorbed nutrients,...

Autonomous robotic vehicles: useful for agricultural and environmental applications. (Focus on Biological Engineering).(reduction of bird predation in aquaculture industry)
May 1, 2003... Aquaculture is a fast growing area worldwide and represents about $200 million per year in Louisiana alone. However, bird depredation can decimate fish yields. It is estimated that one egret can eat .15 kilograms (one-third pound) of fish per...

Simulation game for improving fresh produce retailing. (Focus on Biological Engineering).
May 1, 2003... Decisions by produce managers determine the quality and availability of fresh produce at retail stores. Quality is lowered when excess product is ordered and held for several days. Empty shelves result from insufficient quantities being...

Designing bioreactors: thinking in and out of a box. (Focus on Biological Engineering).
May 1, 2003... A bioreactor, quite simply, is a vessel or a box. To design a bioreactor is to devise ways to control the physical and biochemical environment inside this box, which involves regulating the flow of energy and materials in and out of it, for the...

Complete recycling systems for "Waste". (Focus on Biological Engineering).(Land Network International advocates agricultural compost systems)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Why is it that natural ecosystems do not appear to "leak" nutrients? With the help of ASAE online Technical Library, Land Network International was able to answer that question and describe how the "closed loop" works (see Resource, April 2001,...

Multiple air pollutant removal in a Biological filter: engineering parameters and microbial ecology. (Focus on Biological Engineering).
May 1, 2003... Air pollution control is an expensive environmental requirement for many industries. Industry is constantly searching for more effective, lower-cost technologies. Biological filters fit this description, especially for large volume emissions...

Managing aquatic ecosystem processes at the watershed level: an ecological engineering approach. (Focus on Biological Engineering).
May 1, 2003... Ecosystem processes are complex and difficult to manage. The ecological engineering group within the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department at the University of Arkansas applies the principles of ecology and engineering to...

The path to healthier potato chips. (Focus on Biological Engineering).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... The path to healthier potato chips began at an unusual site where abandoned oil reservoirs are located. This is an interesting twist to the decade-old Texas A&M study of engineering mechanics of the deep-frying process for chips. Intrigue...

Automated monitoring system tends the flock. (Focus on Biological Engineering).
May 1, 2003... Poultry production has historically required operators to keep a close watch over the flock since quick action is required when trouble develops. Modem production breeds have been developed to grow quickly but, as a consequence, are very...

Phytoremediation. (Focus on Biological Engineering).
May 1, 2003... Non-point source (NPS) pollution has been called the nation's largest water quality problem, and its reduction is a major challenge facing society today. Since the approval of the Clean Water Act of 1972, the United States has made great...

Multi-spectral vision technology for precision farming: the future of site-specific crop management. (Focus on Biological Engineering).
May 1, 2003... Yunseop (James) Kim Agricultural fields are variable and require site-specific crop management. Nitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient required for plant growth and a major component of the chlorophyll molecule enhancing photosynthesis....

Engineering the optical control of biology: light-activated DNA. (Focus on Biological Engineering).
May 1, 2003... DNA participates in a multitude of biological processes that govern who we are and how we feel. The regulation of DNA-dependent processes is central to the proper function of living cells as well as molecular biology assays. The directed...

Meetings Council update. (Inside ASAE).(Calendar)
May 1, 2003... I want to take a few minutes of your time to update you on activities of the Meetings Council. It is the Council's responsibility to select dates and locations for the ASAE Annual International Meeting and to approve symposiums and conferences....

PM committee structure proposed to become globally focused. (Inside ASAE: Standard).
May 1, 2003... Under the governance of the ASAE Standards Council, the past three years have resulted in significant changes to the ASAE standards process. These changes started with the establishment of a more effective standards process for the development...

2003 election results of ASAE officers. (Inside ASAE).
May 1, 2003... President-Elect ('03-'04) Jerry L. Wille Board of Trustees ('03-'05) At Large -- Sonia Maassel Jacobsen At Large -- John R. Reid At Large -- Barrie L. Smith At Large -- Ronald E. Yoder Nominating Committee...

Cooperative standards program. (Inside ASAE).(proposed new standards)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Proposed New Projects X511, Drain Restoration After Utility Construction. This standard will give guidance, design information, and restoration practices to follow after underground utilities are installed across agricultural land. ...

Nominations sought for 2004 ASAE election. (Inside ASAE).
May 1, 2003... The ASAE Nominating Committee is seeking nominees for several ASAE offices. The committee is responsible for nominating candidates for: 2005-2006 ASAE President * This candidate should be a public service person who will succeed an...

Minnesota section. (Section News).(newly elected Section officers announced at luncheon on March 7, 2003)
May 1, 2003... On March 7, 2003, the Minnesota section hosted a luncheon and tour of Rahr Malting in Shakopee, Minn. A total of 22 members participated. Rahr Malting Company has the world's largest single-site malt house. Five malt houses at the site are...

Members to receive Disability Income Plan premium credit. (Inside ASAE).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Members insured in the ASAE Disability Income Plan as of April 30, 2003, will receive a premium credit of 30 percent of their premium due for the policy year May 1,2003 through April 30, 2004. In addition, the Disability Income Insurance...

Looking for engineers to highlight in discover issue. (Inside ASAE).
May 1, 2003... The third edition of this popular issue promoting the agricultural, biological, and food systems engineering profession, will be published later this year. Discover describes what the people working in these engineering fields do and how...

Author's Style Guide updated. (Inside ASEA).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... ASAE has just completed a major upgrade of its online Author's Style Guide. The Guide has been redesigned to better accommodate new authors who need to prepare manuscripts for submission, while still providing fast answers for experienced...

In memoriam. (Inside ASAE).(Roger R. Castenson; Glenn O. Schwab, P. E.)(Obituary)
May 1, 2003... Roger R. Castenson, 59, former executive vice president of ASAE from 1986 until 1996, died March31 in Austin, Texas, of cancer. Castenson was a senior consultant with Marketing Partners, Inc., specializing in strategic planning, marketing,...

ASAE technical library. (Inside ASAE).(recent documents and books added, and information on using MSWord templates to post documents to the Technical Library)
May 1, 2003... Check out the latest addition to the ASAE Technical Library: * Transactions of the ASAE, Volume 46, Issues 1 and 2. * Applied Engineering in Agriculture, Volume 19, Issues 1 and 2. * Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, Volume...

Member news. (Inside ASAE).(Thomas Glanville, D. Brad Keheler, William E. Splinter, Harmon L. Towne)
May 1, 2003... ASAE Fellow, William E. Splinter, RE., was recently named the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement's 114th honoree. "Splinter has made considerable contributions to the development and advancement of Nebraska agriculture, the...

Events calendar.(Calendar)
May 1, 2003... ASAE Conferences and International Meetings To receive more information about ASAE conferences and meetings, contact ASAE at 800-371-2723 or mcknight@asae.org. For the complete list, see www.asae.org/resource/asaevents.html. 2003 ...

Knowledge is life.(Reader Forum)
May 1, 2003... It has been 18 and 16 years ago, respectively, since we were diagnosed as having the most common malignancy of men, prostate cancer. Because of this we have come to know a number of ASAE colleagues who have been similarly diagnosed--some in...

Sustained release of porcine somatotropin (pST) gene; protein from biocompatible and biodegradable polymeric nanospheres.(Focus on Biological Engineering)
May 1, 2003... Somatotropins are endogenous protein hormones that play important roles in regulating animal growth rate, feed efficiency, and nutrients partitioning. The principal mechanism of somatotropin lies in the partitioning of absorbed nutrients,...

Complete recycling systems for "waste".(Focus on Biological Engineering)
May 1, 2003... Why is it that natural ecosystems do not appear to "leak" nutrients? With the help of ASAE online Technical Library, Land Network International was able to answer that question and describe how the "closed loop" works (see Resource, April 2001,...

Multiple air pollutant removal in a Biological filter; engineering parameters and microbial ecology.(Focus on Biological Engineering)
May 1, 2003... Air pollution control is an expensive environmental requirement for many industries. Industry is constantly searching for more effective, lower-cost technologies. Biological filters fit this description, especially for large volume emissions...

Multi-spectral vision technology for precision farming; the future of site-specific crop management.(Focus on Biological Engineering)
May 1, 2003... Agricultural fields are variable and require site-specific crop management. Nitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient required for plant growth and a major component of the chlorophyll molecule enhancing photosynthesis. However, excessive N...

Engineering the optical control of biology; light-activated DNA.(Focus on Biological Engineering)
May 1, 2003... DNA participates in a multitude of biological processes that govern who we are and how we feel. The regulation of DNA-dependent processes is central to the proper function of living cells as well as molecular biology assays. The directed...

PM committee structure proposed to become globally focused.(Standards)
May 1, 2003... Under the governance of the ASAE Standards Council, the past three years have resulted in significant changes to the ASAE standards process. These changes started with the establishment of a more effective standards process for the development...

2003 election results of ASAE officers.(Inside ASAE)
May 1, 2003... President-Elect ('03-'04) Jerry L. Wille Board of Trustees ('03-'05) At Large--Sonia Maassel Jacobsen At Large--John R. Reid At Large--Barrie L. Smith At Large--Ronald E. Yoder Nominating Committee ('03-'04) ...

When they take office.(Inside ASAE)
May 1, 2003... President-Elect. Jerry Wille will be president-elect for 2003-2004 beginning at the close of the 2003 Annual International Meeting, president in 2004-2005, and past president in 2005-2006. Trustees. The four trustees elected in 2003 will...

ASAE Technical Library.(Inside ASAE)
May 1, 2003... Check out the latest addition to the ASAE Technical Library: * Transactions of the ASAE, Volume 46, Issues 1 and 2. * Applied Engineering in Agricultural, Volume 19, Issues 1 and 2. * Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health,...

ASAE fellow, William E. Splinter, P.E.(Member News)
May 1, 2003... ASAE Fellow, William E. Splinter, P.E., was recently named the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement's 114th honoree. "Splinter has made considerable contributions to the development and advancement of Nebraska agriculture, the...

Thomas Glanville.(Member News)
May 1, 2003... Thomas Glanville, associate professor in the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department at Iowa State University, was recently honored for 25 years with the university. Glanville, whose speciality is water quality and composting, is...

D. Brad Keleher, P.E.(Member News)
May 1, 2003... D. Brad Keleher, P.E., senior engineer at Deere & Company Technology Center, Moline, Ill., was recently elected to serve a three-year term on the board of directors for the Society of Automotive Engineers. Keleher received his bachelor's...

Harmon L. Towne, P.E.(Member News)
May 1, 2003... Harmon L. Towne, P.E., was recently honored with a Corbett Award by the Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS) Associates board of directors. Towne is vice president of engineering and product development at Brock Manufacturing, Milford,...

Welcome new members.(Inside ASAE)
May 1, 2003... ASAE welcomes the following new members who joined the Society, reinstated a lapsed membership, or upgraded to full membership from student/preprofessional membership in February and March. When available, the member's place of employment has...