Dissertação (Mestrado em Engenharia Mecânica) - Centro Universitário da FEI, São Bernardo do Campo, 2014

INTRODUCTION: Recent epidemiological studies have shown that Diesel Engine Exhaust (DEE) exposure is associated with lung cancer. Well recognized exposures, such as smoking, have long been known to cause lung cancer, and the mechanisms by which the disease occurs have been closely investigated. However, there is very little information regarding the mechanisms by which chronic DEE exposure leads to a disease outcome. It has also been shown that transcriptomic changes in the deeper portions of the airway may be detectable in the more proximal parts. The goal of this study was to assess transcriptomic alterations in the nasal epithelium of DEE exposed factory workers to better understand the physiologic effects of DEE and how chronic exposure may lead to disease. METHODS: Nasal epithelium brushings were obtained from 41 subjects who work in a factory with DEE exposure, and 38 comparable control subjects who work in factories without DEE exposure. The median Elemental Carbon (EC) levels of exposed individuals was 60.7g/m3, with a range of 17.2-105.4 g/m3, while the median of EC levels of unexposed controls was 10.87g/m3, with a range of 9.89-12.55g/m3. RNA was isolated from nasal epithelial cells, and profiled for gene expression using Affymetrix Human Gene 1.0ST microarray chips. Linear modeling was used to detect differential expression between DEE exposure and controls. Pathway enrichment in differentially expressed genes was assessed using EnrichR. GSEA provided comparisons between the genes known to be differentially expressed due to smoking, and the genes that were found in our data to be differentially expressed due to smoking or DEE. A linear modeling approach was further used to investigate the effects of the interaction between smoking status and DEE exposure, and boxplot analysis was used to explore the interaction effect. RESULTS: We found 225 genes whose expression is associated with DEE exposure at FDR q < 0.25, after adjusting for smoking status. Within this set of genes, we observed increased expression of genes involved in the oxidative stress response, cell cycle, and protein modification, as well as genes associated with the AhR pathway and the Nrf2-mediated xenobiotic metabolism response. Additionally, decreased expression of genes involved in transmembrane transport, such as CFTR and the solute carrier family genes was also found. Furthermore, we discovered 8 genes at FDR q < 0.25 that have altered expression due to the interaction of DEE and smoking status, suggesting a synergistic relationship between the effects of these exposures on some aspects of the physiological response. For these genes, the effects of DEE were generally more dramatic in never smokers. CONCLUSIONS: The transcriptomic alterations we identified may help provide insight into the underlying mechanisms of DEE carcinogenicity. The relationship between cigarette smoke exposure and DEE exposure may provide more information about how chronic DEE exposure leads to lung cancer and other respiratory diseases.

Tese de mestrado integrado. Engenharia Mecânica. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 2009

Tese de mestrado integrado. Engenharia Mecânica. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 2010

Tese de mestrado. Manutenção Industrial. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 2009

It is well known that high-speed liquid jetting is one of the most powerful techniques available to cut or penetrate material. Recently, it has been conjectured that high-speed liquid jets may be beneficial in improving combustion in such applications as SCRAM jets and direct injection diesel engines. Although there are practical limitations on maximum jet velocity, a fundamental study of the characteristics of high-speed liquid fuel jets and their auto-ignition feasibility is necessary. Important benefits could be increased combustion efficiency and enhanced emission control from improved atomisation. The generation of high-speed liquid jets (water and diesel fuel) in the supersonic to hypersonic ranges by use of a vertical single stage powder gun is described. The effect of the projectile velocity and projectile mass on the jet velocity is found experimentally. Jet exit velocities from a range of different nozzle inner profiles and nozzle hardness are thoroughly examined. The characteristics and behaviour of the high-speed liquid jet and its leading bow shock wave have been studied with the aid of a shadowgraph technique. This provides a clearer picture of each stage of the generation of hypersonic liquid jets. It makes possible the study of hypersonic diesel fuel jet characteristics and their potential for auto-ignition. The fundamental processes by which a supersonic liquid jet is generated by projectile impact have been investigated. The momentum transfer from the projectile to the liquid and the shock wave reflection within the nozzle cavity are the key items of interest. A new one-dimensional analysis has been used in order to simplify this complex and difficult problem. The impact pressure obtained from the projectile was firstly derived. Then, an investigation of the intermittent pressure increase in a closed end cavity and a simple stepped, cross-sectional nozzle were carried out. The nozzle pressure and final jet velocity were estimated and compared to a previous method and to experimental results. Some interesting characteristics found in the experiments relate well to those anticipated by the analysis. The characteristics of a hypersonic diesel fuel jet and its leading edge shock wave were assessed for their potential for auto-ignition using fuel with cetane numbers from 50-100. The investigations were performed at normal ambient air and at elevated air (110 ???C) temperature. So far, there is no sign of auto-ignition that may occur because of the temperature rise of the induced shock.

The study presents a one-dimensional, transient and compressible flow models of a commercial Common Rail Injector (CRI) and a prototype of a single-fuel Hydraulically actuated Electrically controlled Unit Injector (HEUI) developed at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in conjunction with local industry. The unique feature of the UNSW HEUI is the fact that it uses diesel fuel as the driver for pressure amplification within the unit injector. The work undertaken is part of a wider study aimed at optimization of the design of diesel injectors for dual-fuel systems to reduce green house gas emissions. The contribution of this thesis is the development of the model of the UNSW HEUI injector, which can be used to investigate possible modifications of the injector for its use in dual-fuel injection systems. The developed models include electrical, mechanical and hydraulic subsystems present in the injectors. They are based on Kirchhoff??s laws, on the mass and momentum conservation equations and on the equilibrium of forces. The models were implemented in MATLAB/SIMULINK graphical software environment, which provides a high degree of flexibility and allows simulation of both linear and nonlinear elements. The models were used to perform sensitivity analysis of both injectors. The sensitivity analysis has revealed that the temperature of the solenoid coil is one of the critical parameters affecting the timing and the quantity of the fuel injection of both injectors. Additional critical parameters were found to be the dimensions of the piston of the CRI, the stiffness of the needle spring of the HEUI and the dimensions of the intensifier of the HEUI. The models also revealed that in the case of pilot injections the speed of the solenoid is the major limiting factor of the performance. The developed models provide better understanding of the issues and limitations of the injectors. They give detailed insight into their working principles. The investigations of the models permit making quantitative analysis of the timing of the HEUI solenoid and to evaluate the proposed change of the direction of the pressure acting on the HEUI solenoid plunger.

The objective of this research is to determine the influence of liquid water content on the toxicity of petroleum hydrocarbons (PHC) to soil microorganisms in frozen soil. This research was conducted on soil collected from an aged diesel fuel spill site at Casey Station, East Antarctica, as well as on spiked diesel contaminated soil from Macquarie Island, a sub-Antarctic island.<p> Suitable soil biogeochemical toxicity endpoints for PHC contamination were identified using sub-Antarctic soil from Macquarie Island spiked with diesel fuel. The sensitivity of nitrification, denitrification, carbohydrate utilization and total soil respiration to diesel fuel was assessed. Potential nitrification activity (PNA) was the most sensitive indicator of contamination assessed for nitrogen cycling, with a PHC concentration effecting microbial activity by 20% of the control response, EC₂₀, of 190 mg PHC kg^-1 soil.<p> Petroleum hydrocarbon toxicity in polar soil was assessed by sampling 32 locations at an aged diesel spill site at Casey Station, East Antarctica. Samples were taken nine times throughout an austral summer to encompass frozen, thaw and refreeze periods. Toxicity was assessed using potential activities of substrate induced respiration, total respiration, nitrification, denitrification, and metabolic quotient, as well as microbial community composition and bacterial biomass. The most sensitive indicator was community composition with an EC₂₅ of 800 mg kg^-1, followed by nitrification (2000 mg kg^-1), microbial biomass (2400 mg kg^-1) and soil respiration (3500 mg kg^-1). Despite changes in potential microbial activities and composition over the frozen/thaw/refreeze period, the sensitivity of these endpoints to PHC did not change with liquid water or temperature. <p> The influence of liquid water (è_liquid) on nutrient supply rate and gas diffusion, which are important factors in microbial degradation of PHC, was determined using contaminated soil from Casey Station. Freezing reduced nutrient supply rate of both NH₄⁺ and NO₃^-. However, an increase in è_liquid was linked to increases in nitrate and ammonia nutrient supply rates in frozen soil. Similarly for gas diffusion, decreases in D_s due to freezing were much more pronounced in soils with low è_liquid compared to soils with higher è_liquid contents. Further research is needed to determine whether bioremediation in cold regions could be enhanced during the period of time where the soil temperature is below 0^oC by controlling factors that increase the amount of liquid water.<p> The influence of liquid water content on the <i>in situ</i> toxicity of PHC to soil microorganisms was evaluated using stable isotope dilution technique to measure gross mineralization and nitrification, which was compared to the toxicity endpoints of potential microbial activities. Liquid water content did not have a significant effect on either gross mineralization or nitrification. Gross nitrification was sensitive to PHC contamination, with toxicity decreasing over time. The EC₂₅ value for gross nitrification was 400 mg kg^-1 for 1 month incubation period. In contrast, gross N mineralization was not sensitive to PHC contamination. Toxic response of gross nitrification to PHC contamination was comparable to PNA with similar EC₂₅ values determined by both measurement endpoints (400 mg kg^-1 for <i>in situ</i> nitrification compared to 200 mg kg^-1 for PNA), indicating that potential microbial activity assays are good surrogates for <i>in situ</i> toxicity of PHC contamination in Polar Regions.<p> Based on ecotoxicological data collected, the recommended soil quality guideline for on PHC contamination in polar soils would be 200 mg kg^-1.

The objective of this research is to determine the influence of liquid water content on the toxicity of petroleum hydrocarbons (PHC) to soil microorganisms in frozen soil. This research was conducted on soil collected from an aged diesel fuel spill site at Casey Station, East Antarctica, as well as on spiked diesel contaminated soil from Macquarie Island, a sub-Antarctic island.<p> Suitable soil biogeochemical toxicity endpoints for PHC contamination were identified using sub-Antarctic soil from Macquarie Island spiked with diesel fuel. The sensitivity of nitrification, denitrification, carbohydrate utilization and total soil respiration to diesel fuel was assessed. Potential nitrification activity (PNA) was the most sensitive indicator of contamination assessed for nitrogen cycling, with a PHC concentration effecting microbial activity by 20% of the control response, EC₂₀, of 190 mg PHC kg^-1 soil.<p> Petroleum hydrocarbon toxicity in polar soil was assessed by sampling 32 locations at an aged diesel spill site at Casey Station, East Antarctica. Samples were taken nine times throughout an austral summer to encompass frozen, thaw and refreeze periods. Toxicity was assessed using potential activities of substrate induced respiration, total respiration, nitrification, denitrification, and metabolic quotient, as well as microbial community composition and bacterial biomass. The most sensitive indicator was community composition with an EC₂₅ of 800 mg kg^-1, followed by nitrification (2000 mg kg^-1), microbial biomass (2400 mg kg^-1) and soil respiration (3500 mg kg^-1). Despite changes in potential microbial activities and composition over the frozen/thaw/refreeze period, the sensitivity of these endpoints to PHC did not change with liquid water or temperature. <p> The influence of liquid water (è_liquid) on nutrient supply rate and gas diffusion, which are important factors in microbial degradation of PHC, was determined using contaminated soil from Casey Station. Freezing reduced nutrient supply rate of both NH₄⁺ and NO₃^-. However, an increase in è_liquid was linked to increases in nitrate and ammonia nutrient supply rates in frozen soil. Similarly for gas diffusion, decreases in D_s due to freezing were much more pronounced in soils with low è_liquid compared to soils with higher è_liquid contents. Further research is needed to determine whether bioremediation in cold regions could be enhanced during the period of time where the soil temperature is below 0^oC by controlling factors that increase the amount of liquid water.<p> The influence of liquid water content on the <i>in situ</i> toxicity of PHC to soil microorganisms was evaluated using stable isotope dilution technique to measure gross mineralization and nitrification, which was compared to the toxicity endpoints of potential microbial activities. Liquid water content did not have a significant effect on either gross mineralization or nitrification. Gross nitrification was sensitive to PHC contamination, with toxicity decreasing over time. The EC₂₅ value for gross nitrification was 400 mg kg^-1 for 1 month incubation period. In contrast, gross N mineralization was not sensitive to PHC contamination. Toxic response of gross nitrification to PHC contamination was comparable to PNA with similar EC₂₅ values determined by both measurement endpoints (400 mg kg^-1 for <i>in situ</i> nitrification compared to 200 mg kg^-1 for PNA), indicating that potential microbial activity assays are good surrogates for <i>in situ</i> toxicity of PHC contamination in Polar Regions.<p> Based on ecotoxicological data collected, the recommended soil quality guideline for on PHC contamination in polar soils would be 200 mg kg^-1.

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