Assessment and Nonlinear Modeling of Wave, Tidal and Wind Energy Converters and Turbines

The Special Issue “Assessment and Nonlinear Modeling of Wave, Tidal, and Wind Energy Converters and Turbines” contributes original research to stimulate the continuing progress of the offshore renewable energy (ORE) field, with a focus on state-of-the-art numerical approaches developed for the design and analysis of ORE devices. Particularly, this collection provides new methodologies, analytical/numerical tools, and theoretical methods that deal with engineering problems in the ORE field of wave, wind, and current structures. This Special Issue covers a wide range of multidisciplinary aspects, such as the 1) study of generalized interaction wake model systems with elm variation for offshore wind farms; 2) a flower pollination method based on global maximum power point tracking strategy for point-absorbing type wave energy converters; 3) performance optimization of a Kirsten–Boeing turbine using a metamodel based on neural networks coupled with CFD; 4) proposal of a novel semi-submersible floating wind turbine platform composed of inclined columns and multi-segmented mooring lines; 5) reduction of tower fatigue through blade back twist and active pitch-to-stall control strategy for a semi-submersible floating offshore wind turbine; 6) assessment of primary energy conversion of a closed-circuit OWC wave energy converter; 7) development and validation of a wave-to-wire model for two types of OWC wave energy converters; 8) assessment of a hydrokinetic energy converter based on vortex-induced angular oscillations of a cylinder; 9) application of wave-turbulence decomposition methods on a tidal energy site assessment; 10) parametric study for an oscillating water column wave energy conversion system installed on a breakwater; 11) optimal dimensions of a semisubmersible floating platform for a 10 MW wind turbine; 12) fatigue life assessment for power cables floating in offshore wind turbines

Assessment and Nonlinear Modeling of Wave, Tidal and Wind Energy Converters and Turbines

Offshore renewable energy (ORE) sources, such as offshore wind turbines, wave energy converters, and tidal and current turbines, have experienced rapid growth in the past decade. The combination of wave, wind, and current energy devices in hybrid marine platforms that use synergies through proper combinations has been a recent scientific focus. The new concepts and structures being investigated require developing new design and analysis approaches that implement novel numerical modeling tools and simulation methods, thus advancing science, technology, and engineering. ORE structures may be subject to complex loads and load effects, which demand comprehensive and accurate numerical modeling representations of the physics underpinning the problem. Important factors that affect design, functionality, structural integrity, and performance of offshore structures include (but are not limited to): fluid–structure interactions, controller actions, intense dynamic effects, nonlinear loadings, extreme and harsh weather conditions, and impact pressure loads. Furthermore, these factors cannot be considered in isolation, since each factor is potentially coupled with another, requiring fully coupled models. To enable further growth in reliable ORE technologies, more advanced numerical tools and nonlinear modeling are needed

PROGRAM and PROCEEDINGS THE NEBRASKA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 1880-2017 Including the Nebraska Association of Teachers of Science (NATS) Division Nebraska Junior Academy of Sciences (NJAS) Affiliate and Affiliated Societies

FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2017 7:30 a.m. REGISTRATION FOR ACADEMY, Lobby of Lecture wing, Olin Hall 8:00 Aeronautics and Space Science, Session A, Olin 249 Aeronautics and Space Science, Session B, Olin 224 Chemistry and Physics, Section A, Chemistry, Olin A Collegiate Academy, Biology, Session A, Olin B Collegiate Academy, Biology, Session B, Olin 112 Collegiate Academy, Chemistry and Physics, Session A, Olin 324 8:30 Biological and Medical Sciences, Session A, Smith Callen Conference Center 9:10 Aeronautics and Space Science, Poster Session, Olin 249 9:40 Applied Science and Technology, Olin 325 10:00 Chemistry and Physics, Physics, Section B, Planetarium 10:30 Aeronautics and Space Science, Poster Session, Olin 249 11:00 MAIBEN MEMORIAL LECTURE, OLIN B – Scholarship and Friend of Science Recipients also announced. 12:00 LUNCH, PATIO ROOM, STORY STUDENT CENTER Aeronautics Group, Sunflower Room 1:00 p.m. Anthropology, Olin 111 Biological and Medical Sciences, Session B, Smith Callen Conference Center Collegiate Academy, Biology, Session A, Olin B Collegiate Academy, Biology, Session B, Olin 112 Collegiate Academy, Chemistry and Physics, Session B, Olin 324 Earth Science, Olin 249 1:05 Applied Science and Technology, Olin 325 1:15 Teaching of Science and Math, Olin 224 Chemistry and Physics, Section A, Chemistry, Olin A 2:45 Environmental Sciences, Olin 249 4:30 BUSINESS MEETING, OLIN B Abstracts of papers 2016-2017 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2016-2017 PROGRAM COMMITTEE 2016-2017 POLICY COMMITTEE FRIENDS OF THE ACADEMY FRIEND OF SCIENCE AWARD WINNERS FRIEND OF SCIENCE AWARD TO KACIE BAUM FRIEND OF SCIENCE AWARD TO TODD YOUNG Author Index 141 p

Program and Proceedings: The Nebraska Academy of Sciences 1880-2013

PROGRAM FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013 REGISTRATION FOR ACADEMY, Lobby of Lecture wing, Olin Hall Aeronautics and Space Science, Session A, Olin 249 Aeronautics and Space Science, Session B, Olin 224 Collegiate Academy, Biology Session A, Olin B Biological and Medical Sciences, Session A, Olin 112 Biological and Medical Sciences, Session B, Smith Callen Conference Center NE Chapter, Nat\u27l Council For Geographic Education, Olin 325 Junior Academy, Judges Check-In, Olin 219 Junior Academy, Senior High REGISTRATION, Olin Hall Lobby Chemistry and Physics, Section A, Chemistry, Olin A Chemistry and Physics, Section B, Physics, Planetarium Collegiate Academy, Chemistry and Physics, Session A, Olin 324 Junior Academy, Senior High Competition, Olin 124, Olin 131 Aeronautics and Space Science, Poster Session, Olin 249 Anthropology, Olin 111 NWU Health and Sciences Graduate School Fair, Olin and Smith Curtiss Halls Aeronautics and Space Science, Poster Session, Olin 249 MAIBEN MEMORIAL LECTURE, OLIN B Bob Feurer, North Bend High School, Making People Smarter Using Habits of Mind LUNCH, PATIO ROOM, STORY STUDENT CENTER (pay and carry tray through cafeteria line, or pay at NAS registration desk) Aeronautics Group, Sunflower Room Biological and Medical Sciences, Session C, Olin 112 Biological and Medical Sciences, Session D, Smith Callen Conference Center Chemistry and Physics, Section A, Chemistry, Olin A Collegiate Academy, Biology Session A, Olin B Collegiate Academy, Biology Session B, Olin 249 Collegiate Academy, Chemistry and Physics, Session B, Olin 324 Junior Academy, Judges Check-In, Olin 219 Junior Academy, Junior High REGISTRATION, Olin Hall Lobby Junior Academy, Senior High Competition, (Final), Olin 110 Anthropology, Olin 111 Teaching of Science and Math, Olin 224 Applied Science and Technology, Olin 325 Junior Academy, Junior High Competition, Olin 124, Olin 131 NJAS Board/Teacher Meeting, Olin 219 BUSINESS MEETING, OLIN B AWARDS RECEPTION for NJAS, Scholarships, Members, Spouses, and Guests First United Methodist Church, 2723 N 50th Street, Lincoln, N

Genomic studies on floral and vegetative development in the Genus Streptocarpus (Gesneriaceae)

The genus Streptocarpus consists of around 180 species with diverse morphologies. At least three main types of vegetative growth forms can be distinguished: caulescent, rosulate (acaulescents with multiple leaves), and unifoliate (acaulescents with one leaf). Floral size, shape, and pigmentation pattern are also highly variable between species. Previous studies have suggested that some of the morphological characters are inherited as Mendelian traits. For instance, the rosulate growth form is dominant over the unifoliate, and the rosulate / unifoliate growth form was hypothesised to be determined by two genetic loci, based on the Mendelian segregation ratios recorded in backcross and F2 populations. However, the identity of the loci and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, Streptocarpus rexii (rosulate) and Streptocarpus grandis (unifoliate) were used to study the genetic basis of morphological variation in Streptocarpus. The aim is to use modern next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies to build draft genomes, transcriptomes, and genetic maps for the non-model Streptocarpus plants, and carry out quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping to locate the causative loci. First, suitable DNA and RNA extraction methods for obtaining NGS-quality nucleic acids from Streptocarpus were established. For DNA extraction this was a modified protocol of the ChargeSwitch gDNA Plant Kit, and for RNA extraction a TRIzol reagent plus phenol:chloroform:isoamyl alcohol wash protocol was devised. The nucleic acid samples extracted were subsequently used for library preparation and NGS sequencing experiments. Whole genome shotgun sequencing was performed for S. rexii and S. grandis using Illumina HiSeq 4000 and HiSeq X. De novo assembly of the sequence data produced a S. rexii draft genome of 596,583,869 bp, with 95,845 scaffolds and an N50 value of 35,609 bp. The S. grandis draft genome had a total span of 843,329,708 bp, with 127,951 scaffolds and an N50 value of 31,638 bp. The genome assemblies served as references for subsequent NGS data analysis. The RNA samples derived from various vegetative and floral tissues of S. rexii and S. grandis were sequenced on MiSeq and HiSeq 4000 platforms. The transcriptome assembly was carried out using de novo and reference-based methods (i.e. mapped to the obtained draft genomes), followed by putative protein-coding open reading frame identification and annotation. For S. rexii, 60,500 and 53,322 transcripts were constructed in the de novo and reference-based assemblies respectively. For S. grandis, 51,267 and 46,429 transcripts were constructed respectively. A Streptocarpus genetic map was constructed using restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (RAD-Seq) genotyping of a backcross population ((S. grandis × S. rexii) × S. grandis). The RAD-Seq data were analysed using a de novo approach and reference-based approaches with two different aligners, and the RAD-markers recovered from the three approaches were combined to maximise the genetic map density. Different marker-filtering strategies with varying stringencies were also tested and compared. The results showed that the most stringently filtered map had 377 mapped markers in 17 linkage groups, and a total distance of 1,144.2 cM. On the other hand, the densest map consisted of 853 markers in 16 linkage groups (matching the basic haploid chromosome number of the Streptocarpus species used here), and a total distance of 1,389.9 cM. The maps constructed were used for QTL mapping of growth form variation, identifying up to 5 effective loci for the rosulate / unifoliate phenotypes, with two of the loci on LG2 and LG14 consistently found in all mapping attempts. The results suggest that the variation in growth form may be regulated by two major loci, but a few additional minor loci might also be associated with the trait. Several QTLs for floral dimension, flowering time, and floral pigmentation patterns were also found, and the genetic regions associated with the floral traits of Streptocarpus were revealed for the first time. During this study valuable genomic resources were generated for future research to identify the genes underlying different morphologies in the genus Streptocarpus. The reported QTLs narrow down the genetic region for fine-mapping studies, and the genome and transcriptome resources will aid the isolation of candidate gene sequences. Identifying the genetic loci and their crosstalk behind the variable morphologies in future work will greatly add to our knowledge on how the highly diverse genus Streptocarpus has evolved and on how fundamental developmental processes of plants are regulated

PROGRAM and PROCEEDINGS THE NEBRASKA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES: 139th Anniversary Year, One Hundred-Twenty-Ninth Annual Meeting, April 12, 2019, NEBRASKA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY, LINCOLN, NEBRASKA

PROGRAM AT-A-GLANCE FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019 7:30 a.m. REGISTRATION OPENS - Lobby of Lecture Wing, Olin Hall 8:00 Aeronautics and Space Science, Session A – Acklie 109 Aeronautics and Space Science, Session B – Acklie 111 Collegiate Academy; Biology, Session B - Olin B Biological and Medical Sciences, Session A - Olin 112 Biological and Medical Sciences, Session B - Smith Callen Conference Center Chemistry and Physics; Chemistry - Olin A 8:00 “Teaching and Learning the Dynamics of Cellular Respiration Using Interactive Computer Simulations” Workshop – Olin 110 9:30 “Life After College: Building Your Resume for the Future” Workshop – Acklie 218 8:25 Collegiate Academy; Chemistry and Physics, Session A – Acklie 007 8:36 Collegiate Academy; Biology, Session A - Olin 111 9:00 Chemistry and Physics; Physics – Acklie 320 9:10 Aeronautics and Space Science, Poster Session – Acklie 109 & 111 10:30 Aeronautics and Space Science, Poster Session – Acklie 109 & 111 11:00 MAIBEN MEMORIAL LECTURE: Dr David Swanson - OLIN B Scholarship and Friend of Science Award announcements 12:00 p.m. LUNCH – WESLEYAN CAFETERIA Round-Table Discussion – “Assessing the Academy: Current Issues and Avenues for Growth” led by Todd Young – Sunflower Room 12:50 Anthropology – Acklie 109 1:00 Applied Science and Technology - Olin 111 Biological and Medical Sciences, Session C - Olin 112 Biological and Medical Sciences, Session D - Smith Callen Conference Center Chemistry and Physics; Chemistry - Olin A Collegiate Academy; Biology, Session B - Olin B Earth Science – Acklie 007 Environmental Sciences – Acklie 111 Teaching of Science and Math – Acklie 218 1:20 Chemistry and Physics; Physics – Acklie 320 4:30 BUSINESS MEETING - OLIN B NEBRASKA ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS OF SCIENCE (NATS) The 2019 Fall Conference of the Nebraska Association of Teachers of Science (NATS) will be held at the Younes Conference Center, Kearney, NE, September 19-21, 2019. President: Betsy Barent, Norris Public Schools, Firth, NE President-Elect: Anya Covarrubias, Grand Island Public Schools, Grand Island, NE AFFILIATED SOCIETIES OF THE NEBRASKA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, INC. 1. American Association of Physics Teachers, Nebraska Section Web site: http://www.aapt.org/sections/officers.cfm?section=Nebraska 2. Friends of Loren Eiseley Web site: http://www.eiseley.org/ 3. Lincoln Gem & Mineral Club Web site: http://www.lincolngemmineralclub.org/ 4. Nebraska Chapter, National Council for Geographic Education 5. Nebraska Geological Society Web site: http://www.nebraskageologicalsociety.org Sponsors of a $50 award to the outstanding student paper presented at the Nebraska Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting, Earth Science /Nebraska Chapter, Nat\u27l Council Sections 6. Nebraska Graduate Women in Science 7. Nebraska Junior Academy of Sciences Web site: http://www.nebraskajunioracademyofsciences.org/ 8. Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union Web site: http://www.noubirds.org/ 9. Nebraska Psychological Association http://www.nebpsych.org/ 10. Nebraska-Southeast South Dakota Section Mathematical Association of America Web site: http://sections.maa.org/nesesd/ 11. Nebraska Space Grant Consortium Web site: http://www.ne.spacegrant.org

Historical and Geographic Context for the Evolution of Climate Niche Breadth in Temperate Plants

In order to predict how species will respond to global climate change, scientists must understand the relationships between traits, fitness, environments and distributions. Niche theory provides a useful framework. Niche breadth describes the range of environmental conditions necessary for population growth. Among these conditions, climate is especially important. Climate niche breadth in turn may reflect a confluence of different forces. This dissertation presents a series of projects that assess the relative roles of historical, geographic and population processes that contribute to climate niche breadth in temperate plants. The first project evaluates the predictive power of a classical hypothesis. If gene flow slows divergent adaptation, then range fragmentation should promote niche breadth. By quantifying the relationships between environmental difference, geographic distance and genetic isolation among European plants, I show that the effect of allopatry on niche breadth depends on the role of the geographic distance among populations. The remaining projects focus in increasingly finer detail on the evolution of niche breadth in a taxonomically complex group. Dodecatheon sect. Dodecatheon grow in diverse habitats across North America. They have confounded taxonomists with polyploidy, hybridization and convergent adaptation. Currently recognized species are either widespread or rare microclimate specialists. First, with multilocus phylogenetics, I show that the difference in niche breadth among rare and widespread species is not simply due to differences in environmental tolerance. In eastern North America, geographic heterogeneity and paleoclimate history strongly contribute to taxonomic rarity. The next project focuses on this group. Both rare eastern species are considered glacial relicts. I test this hypothesis by combining ecophysiological and population genetic data in a new phylogeographic framework. The analysis shows that the match between traits and habitats is largely due to local gene flow and selection rather than migration and habitat sorting. Finally, through morphometrics, cytology, population genetics and greenhouse experiments, I show that dynamic polyploidy permits local movement of alleles between rare and widespread taxa. Overall, these results suggest that anthropogenic climate change may threaten biodiversity not by forcing impossible migrations, but by promoting hybridization and complicating taxonomy just as it has in the past

Expression of recombinant S-locus F-box-S2 protein and computational modeling of protein interaction at the self-incompatibility locus of Rosaceae

Philosophiae Doctor - PhDSelf-incompatibility (SI) is a major mechanism that prevents inbreeding in ow-ering plants, which was identi ed in Rosaceae, Solanaceae and Scrophulariace. In these families, SI is gametophytic and retains inter-speci c genetic variations by out-crossing promotion. Self-incompatibility is genetically controlled by an S- locus where both male (pollen) and female (pistil) S-determinants are encoded. The female determinant (SRNase) has been extensively studied, whereas its male counterpart (SLF/SFB) has only recently been characterized as a pollen-expressed protein, which encodes for an F-box domain. However, the exact mechanism of in- teraction between SLF/SFB and SRNase is still largely unclear in Rosaceae. This study takes a closer look at the mechanism of self-incompatibility to gain a clearer understanding of the ligand-receptor binding mechanism of SI using molecular evolutionary analysis, structure prediction and binding speci city characteriza- tion, the outcome of which, will translate into a guideline for future studies. The major aims of this study were to derive an evolutionary pattern for GSI in Rosaceae subfamilies and to further assess the collaborative non-self recognition in Malus domestica Borkh.. The evolutionary analysis suggests a di erence in the evolution- ary pattern of Prunoideae and Maloideae S-genes, hence proposing a di erence in their GSI systems. Furthermore, sites responsible for this divergence are identi ed as critical amino acids in GSI function. To maintain GSI it is expected that the S-genes must be linked and co-evolve as a genetic unit. The results of this study show that these genes have co-existed, while SRNase have experienced a higher rate of evolution compared to SLF, thus rejecting the co-evolution of these genes in Maloideae. Furthermore, positively selected sites of S-locus pistil and pollen genes were identi ed that are likely to be responsible for speci city determination. Di erent numbers of these sites are found for both S-genes, while SRNase holds a larger number of positively selected sites. Additionally a model of speci city is introduced that supports the collaborative non-self recognition in Malus GSI, while critical sites responsible for such speci city are proposed and mapped to the predicted ancestral tertiary structure of SRNase and SLF/SFB. The identi cation of regions determining pollen pistil speci city as well as proposing a Collaborative Non-self Recognition model for Malus domestica Borkh. provide greater in-sight into how pollen-pistil communication system works in Maloideae (Rosaceae subfamily)

Characterisation of a gain-of-function mutant of CYSTEINE-RICH RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE 10 (CRK10) in Arabidopsis thaliana

Receptor-like kinases (RLKs) comprise a large superfamily of proteins in plant genomes, and play essential roles in plant growth, development and response to biotic and abiotic stresses. The CYSTEINE-RICH RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASES (CRKs) comprise one of the largest subfamilies of RLKs with over 40 members in Arabidopsis thaliana, and although a few members of the family have been initially characterised, their precise biological functions remain largely unknown. This thesis reports the characterisation of a novel gain-of-function allele of CYSTEINE-RICH RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE 10 (CRK10) in A. thaliana which was isolated from a chemical mutagenesis screen. This mutation causes the substitution of alanine 397 with a threonine residue in subdomain III / αC-helix of the kinase domain of CRK10, and this novel allele has been accordingly registered as crk10-A397T with the Arabidopsis community database. The crk10- A397T mutant is a dwarf, and anatomical characterisation unveiled severely collapsed xylem vessels in the root and hypocotyl of the plant. Reporter lines suggested CRK10 is expressed in close association to vascular tissues, and a translational fusion with the fluorescent protein mCherry indicates that CRK10 is a plasma membrane-bound protein. Analysis of the recombinant WT and crk10- A397T versions of the cytoplasmic kinase domain of CRK10 demonstrated their auto-phosphorylation activity, and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis concluded that Thr397 acts as an additional auto-phosphorylation site in situ. Furthermore, an RNA-seq experiment revealed the constitutive induction of defence-related genes in the transcriptome of crk10- A397T mutant hypocotyls, including genes involved in the signalling pathways of the stress hormones salicylic acid (SA) and abscisic acid (ABA). Analysis of the composition of cell walls in the crk10-A397T mutant hypocotyls revealed extensive differences compared to the WT, an indication of cell wall remodelling mechanisms that are likely associated with the collapse of xylem vessels in this organ. Bioassays with the soil-borne vascular pathogen Fusarium oxysporum revealed that crk10-A397T mutant has a greater probability of survival to infection compared to WT plants. Analysis of genetic crosses demonstrated that key components of SA signalling pathways are required for the disease resistance phenotype of the crk10-A397T mutant