ABE Ambassadors, our newest departmental club, have taken an active role in outreach for our department. This past Wednesday, September 10th, they conducted a pneumatics laboratory for students from Acacia Academy, located in LaGrange, Illinois. The Ambassadors are just one more reason our department stands out!

Dr. Robert M. Stwalley III

Dr. Bob (as the students have decided to call him) has three degrees from Purdue, making him a ‘triple-domer’ with black and gold blood.  His undergraduate degree is from ABE, and his graduate work was done in ME.  His wife, Dr. Carol (as he has decided to call her), also has all three degrees from Purdue, but her pedigree is pure:  all three of hers are from ABE.  Dr. Bob met his wife in room 205 of the ABE building, and they have been happily working and raising kids together ever since. They have four children: Kathryn (BS-Purdue, grad school-Purdue), Robert (undergrad-Purdue), Elizabeth (Jefferson HS), and Daniel (Tecumseh JHS).  Dr. Bob has spent numerous years in industry and as a consultant in private practice.  His specialization is energy and optimal resource utilization.  He wanted to be an Ag Engineer from the time he was in the fifth grade and met his father’s good friend, Purdue ABE Professor Bruce McKenzie.  Returning to ABE and teaching today’s students has brought him through a full circle of experiences.  He is thrilled to be back home in Agricultural & Biological Engineering.

Dr. Margaret Gitau

Dr. Margaret Gitau will join our faculty in August of next year (2015) from Florida A&M University where she is an Associate Professor in Biological and Agricultural Systems Engineering and is affiliated with the Center for Water and Air Quality. Dr. Gitau received her PhD from Penn State and her research interests include Watershed modeling, BMP Selection and Placement, Water Quality Modeling, and Sustainable Water Resources Management, among many others. Her favorite way to spend her spare time is gardening - particularly edible gardens. There's "nothing like home-grown lettuce." She loves the changes in color and the bright colors that come with the fall. You can see some of her publications listed at academia.edu.

Dr. Meng Deng

Dr. Deng has been on campus for a little while. He arrived from MIT where he was a visiting scientist and a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Connecticut Health Center. Educated in both China and the US, his BE is in Chemical Engineering (Tsinghua University) and his PhD is in Chemical Engineering (University of Virginia). Dr. Deng and his wife welcomed their first child, Shirley, on August 3rd, so his education continues! His research is focused "on the design and development of new biomaterials for biotechnology and biomedical applications. Of particular interest is to build biological tissue substitutes (such as bone and muscle) to treat tissue injuries and diseases." His research spans from basic science to transitional technology and is "based on the convergence of materials science, micro/nano-scale engineering, and cell biology/medicine." He loves to travel, but we plan to keep him close to home. This semester he is teaching a new course, ABE 59100, Polymeric Biomaterials and will be taking the reins for ABE 37000 Biological and Microbial Kinetics and Reaction Engineering in the Spring.

Dr. Sadegh Dabiri

Dr. Dabiri is an Assistant Professor of Ag & Bio Engineering/Mechanical Engineering. He received his BS degree from Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, his MS and PhD in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from UC Irvine, and after that spent two years at MIT as a Postdoctoral Associate.

He is interested in teaching different aspects of physics of fluids with an emphasis on engineering applications. Dr. Dabiri's research interest is to use computational fluid dynamics to study multiphase flows such as turbulent multiphase flows, cavitation and bubble dynamics, sprays and liquid atomization, mixing in supercritical conditions, and solid particles transport in fluids.

He chose Purdue University because of the international reputation of its engineering program, its collegial atmosphere, and its commitment to excellence in research and education.

October  28 – CENUSA Second Generation Bioenergy Grass Harvest Technology and Market Field Day at the Sweeten Bioenergy Grass Plot Tour (Wabash REMC Building, Wabash, IN)

October 30 – IN Forage Field Day with Wagler Dairy Farm Tour and CENUSA Bioenergy Grass Production Demonstration Plot (IN FFA Leadership Center, Trafalgar, IN)

November 11 – Anaerobic Digester Program and Homestead Dairy AD Project Tour “Rescheduled” (Christo’s Banquet Facility, Plymouth, IN)

November 12 – Solar Applications for Agriculture Workshop and On-Farm Solar Installation Project Tours (Fulton County Fairgrounds, Rochester, IN)

Please feel free to contact Chad Martin with any questions or to register.

Maha Graduates

On August 26, Dr. Naseem Daher defended his Ph. D. dissertation on a novel electro-hydraulic steer-by-wire system utilizing displacement controlled actuation. The new system allows not only for fuel savings and lower emissions but improves steering performance and vehicle safety through the implementation of advanced controls.  Having completed his Ph. D., Dr. Daher has accepted a position as professor at the American University of Beirut in his home country of Lebanon. Congratulations Professor Daher!

New Faces at Maha

Along with the new semester, three new graduate students have arrived at the Maha Fluid Power Laboratory. Mrudula Orpe has joined the laboratory to work towards her master’s degree, Colleen Reidy and Ning Liu started working on their Ph.D. research. Furthermore, there is a new visiting researcher: Juliane Bach has come from TU Braunschweig in Germany. Juliane will work with graduate student Paul Kalbfleisch and visiting researcher Nils Trochelmann on the implementation of our new robot for sound intensity measurements in Maha’s sound chamber. Last but not least, we would like to welcome to the Maha family Hannah Jenkins, the brand-new baby girl of graduate student Ryan Jenkins. Congratulations Ryan! 

Mohamed E. El-Hagarey1,Mohammad N. El-Nesr1, Hani M. Mehanna, Hani A. Mansour. (2014). Energy, economic analysis and efficiencies of micro drip irrigation I- Energy Analysis. IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science (IOSR-JAVS) e-ISSN: 2319-2380, p-ISSN: 2319-2372. Volume 7, Issue 8 Ver. II (Aug. 2014), PP 19-26. www.iosrjournals.org.

 Mansour, H. A., Sabreen, Kh. Pibars, M. Abd El-Hady and Ebtisam I. Eldardiry (2014). EFFECT OF WATER MANAGEMENT BY DRIP IRRIGATION AUTOMATION CONTROLLER SYSTEM ON FABA BEAN PRODUCTION UNDER WATER DEFICIT.  Int. J. of GEOMATE, Dec., 2014, Vol. 7, No. 2 (Sl. No. 14), pp. 1047-1053. http://www.gi-j.com/vol7no2serial14.htm.

 Mohamed E. El-Hagarey1,Mohammad N. El-Nesr1, Hani M. Mehanna, Hani A. Mansour. (2014) Energy, economic analysis and efficiencies of micro drip irrigation II- Economic Analysis and efficiencies. IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science (IOSR-JAVS) e-ISSN: 2319-2380, p-ISSN: 2319-2372. Volume 7, Issue 8 Ver. II (Aug. 2014), PP 19-26. www.iosrjournals.org.

2014 Agricultural & Biological Engineering Senior Capstone Project

Environmental & Natural Resources Engineering

Design of a Trout Stream - Anthony Ruberti, Breanna Paulson, and Samantha Baus http://youtu.be/MrAVIZF6pFo

Restoration of Water Control Structures in Happy Hollow Park - Patrick Glassman and Kirsten Paff  http://youtu.be/rpByGkGMErU

Trail Conservation at Celery Bog Nature Area - Ian Hahus and Scott Kreeger http://youtu.be/Xgd7S1EYkCw

Water Management for PPAC Muck Soils - John Tyler Moore and Kyle Keaffaber http://youtu.be/eJJkflW04U4

Hydroponics Systems Development - Kristen Rathbun, Rachel Sparks, and Kameryn Wright http://youtu.be/ofLXxnKr4UU

Machinery Systems Engineering

Parker Hannifin’s Chainless Challenge - Matt Aschenbrenner, Ryan Bradway, and Matt Hinesley  http://youtu.be/zL2yEXZs0HA

Purdue Quarter-Scale Chassis Dynamometer - Adam Cross http://youtu.be/a8S6VR-hrqM

Hydraulically-Powered Grain Cart Axle with Tracks and Variable Motors - Austin Fischer, Caleb Schuman, and Christopher Ziga http://youtu.be/f9xrOa9Zxr8

Purdue Quarter-Scale (PQS14) - Nathan Chupp, Adam Cross, Dalton Harbison, Rebecca Kallal, Samantha Schmelz, Tucker Stout, and Jason Strasemeier http://youtu.be/VkzVBsuK-ZM

Purdue Practical Utility Platform (PUP) - Jeremiah Cottongim, Jordan Garrity, John Scott, and Luke Carr  http://youtu.be/pWKrPgo5l1Y

Auto Tensioning System for John Deere Draper Belt - Tyler Crews, Yuqian Lin, Kyle Riffle, Jason Quinn, and Michael Peters  http://youtu.be/St2gBalS6BE

Agricultural Systems Management

Mobile Grain Bin Inventory Solutions - David Bedel, Jonathan Pelsy, and Joseph Tapp http://youtu.be/n5KfRs7zTa0

CNH RFID Tagging System for Round Baler - Alex Yaggie, Jake Hoeing, and Siwen Zhao http://youtu.be/YrTD-0QFoC4v

Precision Farming Evaluation - Corbin Abrell, Jay Carbiener, and Andrew Malott

Grain Leg Training Module - John Bechman and Ethan Owens http://youtu.be/vd9yZcEBZIo

Bale Weighing System - Zeke McSherry and Jarvis Cale http://youtu.be/WsPDfI8Bs2A

Farm Information Management System Using OpenATK Apps & Cloud-Based Storage - John A. Houtman and Sam M. Williams http://youtu.be/u4heranZhA0

ADM Railcar Camera - Tyler Cline, Nate Silvey, and Clint Spreen http://youtu.be/xSuy8MOnFNU

Individual Row Yield - Brandon Hershberger, Darren Friar, and Alex England

Shear Envi Golf Core - Chandler Keown, Matthew Pharris, Jonathan Angelo, and Stephen Tucker

Bunk Sweep/Scraper Attachment - Tyler Clemens, Justin Lambert, and Derek Leahy http://youtu.be/WRRy7QOx7yo

Straw Toughness Testing - Ethan Sell and Tyler Reese http://youtu.be/Bmj1uQi3HDo

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), the Next Technology in Ag? - Colton Ringel and Adam Sills

GSI Grain Bin Door Redesign - Kyle Barry, Daniel Hession, and Cody Schuman http://youtu.be/lVri7ZWtrp0

Biological Engineering

Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods – Ghana - Ricki Eini, Zane Graper, Chenlu Yu, and Caitlin Lahey http://youtu.be/jH3NI3oScCI

Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Formula production in Ethiopia - Ross Cornelissen, Jacob Daghe, Mengchao Liang, and Brendan Tsai http://youtu.be/MnCihsCMDAo

NAOLEYM – Soy Based Oil Absorbing Paper - Xun Zhou, Srishti Khurana, Ziyang Zhou, and Evan Wibawa http://youtu.be/7edR1MOXW08

Production of Soy Pharmaceutical Tablets - Mark Aikman, Andrew Andis, Katelyn Headings, and Saumya Nagar http://youtu.be/gvDlh33Npqk

Hop Extract - Aiman Nawari, Nicholas Angermeier, Sung-Ting Chen, and Scott Vanderbosch http://youtu.be/pyncOLNFv1s

Production of Soy Electronic Screen Protectors - Lauren Summers, William Waterstreet, Reid Bonner, and Daniel Paladino http://youtu.be/QguFqxSmaBA

Targeted Nano-Chemotherapeutics for Breast Cancer Treatment - Gordon Showalter, Cassie Cox, Stephanie Neace, and Curtis Morgan http://youtu.be/IFMDx11Yt_Y

Continuous Marshmallow Processing - Tressie Barrett, Deanna Esposito, Evan Staton , and Danica Wylin http://youtu.be/GlgD4yqpNo0

Hard Cider and Brandy Production - Robert Agee, Nicholas Miller, Amanda Shanley, and Xiuyuan Yang http://youtu.be/JI2yf_bBUjo

Micro Malt House Process & Design - Benjamin Daugherty, Jessica Wade, Nicholas Davis, and Jay Tenhundfeld http://youtu.be/xy9X-F0PFFk

Small Scale Greek Yogurt Production - Nicolette Ciasullo, Lauren Green, Farah Iqbal, and Amanda Kreger http://youtu.be/Tdl8QgIKPlo

Dr. Zhonghong Wu, Associate Professor, China Agricultural University, Beijing, arrived at ABE last month to spend one year studying with Dr. Al Heber and analyzing environmental data collected in the National Air Emissions Monitoring Study at a sow farm in North Carolina in collaboration with Dr. Wayne Robarge at North Carolina State University. With her background of animal science and animal environment, she focuses on optimizing ventilation, cooling and heating methods for animal housing under various climate conditions. More recent studies have addressed the measurement and improvement of indoor air quality. Energy savings using improved plate core sensible heat recovery ventilation systems for cold weather regions is another objective of her research.

Visiting scholar Xiaoqian Zhang, a Ph.D. candidate from China Agricultural University CAU) in Beijing, China, arrived in ABE in August 2013. She has recently finished her visit and returned back to CAU. While in ABE, Xiaoqian was co-hosted by Drs. Jiqin Ni and Bernard Engel and attended team activities in both Dr. Ni and Dr. Engel’s groups. During the one-year visit, Xiaoqian participated in an EPA project “Nutrient Characterization of Digester Effluents”. She worked both in ABE and the National Soil Erosion Research Lab (NSERL), where she was under the supervision of  Drs. Douglas Smith and Chi-Hua Huang. The research that Xiaoqian performed included digester influent and effluent sampling and nutrient analysis; laboratory and field rainfall simulation to investigate nutrient runoff potentials and assess the impact of influent and effluent on water quality from natural runoff events. “I have learned being organized and rigorous in research, and hard-working and cooperative in lab work. Teachers and friends in ABE and NSERL are really nice to me. I'd like to thank for your kindness and patience!” Xiaoqian said. What is more? Xiaoqian made many good friends in ABE and in NSERL.