When fires occur in domestic or commercial buildings it is the smoke from the fire that leads to far more injury and death than the heat produced from the flames. Understanding the movement of smoke within the fire compartment and through openings in the enclosure is critical for designing buildings to prevent fire fatalities. Prediction of the movement of smoke is a complex phenomenon and is a continued focus of research throughout the world. Work has been conducted in the past on the exchange flow rates through vertical openings, but very little has been done on horizontal ceiling openings. Current smoke transport calculations are most often carried out using standard vent flow models that do not accurately take in to account the buoyancy component of the flow. The fire zone model BRANZFire was developed with a ceiling vent flow algorithm based on the work of Cooper who found there was very little data on which to base his predictions. This report aims to provide additional experimental data on exchange flow rates through horizontal ceiling openings through the use of saltwater modelling and compare this to the work previously undertaken by Cooper. Taking measurements of fire phenomena in hot and smoky environments can be difficult and expensive because the sooty environment and high temperatures involved can damage equipment and make taking accurate readings a challenge. Herein this problem is overcome through the use of a saltwater analogue system to model the conditions in a real fire scenario. The density difference created by a fire between the hot fire gases and the ambient air is replicated by using fresh and saltwater. The orientation of the experiment is inverted compared to the real life scenario as the saltwater which has the higher density is added to the fresh water. The saltwater is injected from a source on the ‘floor’ of the compartment into a tank of fresh water which generates a buoyant plume that ‘rises’ to the ceiling forming a distinct upper layer. Fluid in this layer exchanges with the ambient fluid through the ceiling opening. The saltwater is dyed and Light Attenuation (LA) is used to discern the density of the fluid and hence the amount of mixing that has occurred. This can then be used to determine the amount of exchange flow through the ceiling vent. An integral model for the descent of the interface between the hot smoky zone and the cool ambient zone has been developed and was found to perform well when compared with the saltwater experiments and another predictive model developed by Turner and Baines. The model was then developed further using mass conservation conventions to calculate the exchange flow through the ceiling opening. The exchange rate through the ceiling opening was calculated and was found to compare well with Cooper’s algorithm when an equivalent fire size of 323 kW was used but differed significantly when a fire twice this size was considered. It was found that Cooper’s method did not adequately take into account the difference in fire sizes as the exchange flow predicted was almost identical between fire sizes for a particular ceiling vent. The implications of this are that the exchange, and hence the mixing and the amount of smoke, may be under predicted using larger fires in BRANZFire and this could lead to non-conservative design.

Salinity is a significant barrier to the distribution of diatoms, and though it is generally understood that diatoms are ancestrally marine, the number of times diatoms independently colonized fresh waters and the adaptations that facilitated these colonizations remain outstanding questions in diatom evolution. Resolving the exact number of freshwater colonizations will require large-scale phylogenetic reconstruction with dense sampling of marine and freshwater taxa. A more tractable approach to understanding the marine--freshwater barrier is to study a group of diatoms with high diversity in each habitat. The "centric" diatom order Thalassiosirales affords an excellent opportunity to study the origin and evolution of diatoms in fresh waters. Thalassiosirales is a well-supported monophyletic group common in marine, brackish, and freshwater habitats. Thalassiosirales species historically are classified into the marine Thalassiosiraceae or freshwater Stephanodiscaceae, reflecting the more generally held hypothesis that diatoms are naturally split along marine--freshwater lines. The fossil record suggests that Stephanodiscaceae traces to a single colonization of freshwater in the mid-Miocene, and in addition, Stephanodiscaceae species share a suite of complex cell wall characters, which has been interpreted as corroborating evidence for their monophyly. I reconstructed the phylogeny of Thalassiosirales and used the phylogeny to test these and other hypotheses and to address a number of other problems related to the marine--freshwater boundary in diatoms. Phylogenetic analyses showed strong evidence for multiple colonizations of freshwater and reject all previous colonization hypotheses. Results further show that part of Stephanodiscaceae is an early diverging lineage within Thalassiosirales, indicating that these two distantly related and separately derived Stephanodiscaceae lineages independently evolved a similar set of complex morphological features upon or shortly after the colonization of fresh waters. Finally, marine and freshwater diatoms, including Thalassiosirales, show several important differences in silicon physiology. In addition to containing an order of magnitude more silica in their cell walls, freshwater diatoms have a drastically lower enzymatic affinity for silicic acid, the dissolved form of silica used by diatoms. I sequenced the silicon transporter genes from marine and freshwater Thalassiosirales and show that physiological differences are not due to differences in the coding sequence. / text

Salt water is produced from the Ferron Sandstone Member of the Mancos Shale in central Utah as part of the production of coalbed methane (CBM) and is disposed of by injection predominantly into the Navajo Sandstone between 4,500 feet to 7,300 feet and is considered to be a hazardous waste. Local government agencies are concerned about the potential impacts on shallow groundwater because of this disposal method. Water samples were gathered from four shallow water-supply wells, and nine salt water disposal (SWD) wells to compare hydrochemistries as an indicator of potential mixing. Shallow water-supply wells are likely recharged by local precipitation while the source of CO2 is from atmospheric and/or soil CO2 gas and comparatively, are low in total dissolved solids. Carbonate mineral dissolution is the source of CO2 in the SWD wells and is exceptionally high in TDS. The SWD water appears to be old water and displays an evaporative signature. A geologic analysis was conducted for the Drunkards Wash gas field using 479 digital gas well logs. Three subsurface faults were identified with one fault in the north and the other two in the central part of the gas field near the eastern and western flanks. These faults were further confirmed by comparing average monthly gas and water production from the first 24 months in these faulted areas to adjacent control areas. Areas near faults reveal two to six times greater gas production than that of the associated control areas, and water production is greater by nearly an order of magnitude. This difference is likely due to the fracturing associated with the damage zone near the faults allowing for increased flow of gas and water. Due to the high injection pressures the vertical hydraulic gradient has been reversed from downward to upward. However, due to the thick sequences of shale separating the disposal aquifers and the shallow aquifers the estimated time required for the disposal waters to migrate to the surface would be at least 2,000 years. I conclude that the saline waters produced from the Ferron Sandstone are being safely sequestered in deeply buried, extensive and geologically-sealed aquifers.

Most of the coastal areas around the globe depend on coastal aquifers vulnerable to salt water intrusion. The Salalah plain in southern Oman is underlain by a shallow limestone aquifer extending north up to the foot of the Jabal AlQara which reach a height of about 1000 m. A major part of the recharge to the aquifer is through fog condensation on the forest on the upper slopes of the mountain. Increasing population and water use for agriculture has caused limited salt-water intrusion. There is an urgent need for management of the aquifer to avoid further intrusion. A numerical flow model was developed for the Salalah coastal aquifer using both the MODFLOW and the MT3DMS computer codes to study the present water flow and future water turnover, the latter under different scenarios. The fog collecting forest is under threat due to the browsing of herds of camels. Recharge of treated wastewater is a management measure already in operation. Other management options considered, are restrictions on the use of water in irrigation and improvements in irrigation practices. Still another measure is reforestation of Jabal AlQara. / QC 20100817

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Submitted by Socorro Pontes (socorrop@ufersa.edu.br) on 2017-08-17T14:00:04Z No. of bitstreams: 1 FranciscoIGP_DISSERT.pdf: 1595715 bytes, checksum: d406b1dba5810de32b0a18ee845192ef (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-17T14:00:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 FranciscoIGP_DISSERT.pdf: 1595715 bytes, checksum: d406b1dba5810de32b0a18ee845192ef (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-10 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The production and fruit quality of the tomato crop is directly related to the water quality used in irrigation and to the adequate supply of nutrients, mainly potassium and calcium. This work was carried out in the Department of Environmental and Technological Sciences of the Federal Rural Semi-Arid University (UFERSA), in Mossoró, RN, Brazil. The objective was to evaluate the tomato cultivation (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill) in a protected environment using saline water irrigation In different concentrations, and fertirrigation with different potassium: calcium ratios. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, in a 5 x 4 factorial scheme, with four replications. The experiment was carried out in a protected environment and using a coconut fiber substrate. The treatments were formed by the combination of five ionic ratios of potassium and calcium (F1-K+/Ca2+ = 1.5: 1, F2- K+/Ca2+ = 1.25: 1, F3- K+/Ca2+ = 1: 1, F4- K+/Ca2+ = 1: 1, 25 and F5- K+/Ca2+ = 1:1,5), using standard solutions for each crop, according to specialized literature, with four levels of irrigation water salinity (S1-0.5, S2-2,0, S3-3,5 and S4-5,0 dS m-1). The ratio K+/Ca2+ = 1:1 corresponds to the concentration of these nutrients recommended for the culture in hydroponic cultivation. The plants were evaluated for growth variables (height, stem diameter, number of seeds, number of seeds, number of seeds) (Number of fruits per plant, mean mass of fruits and fruit yield per plant). The K+/Ca2+ ratios studied did not mitigate The effect on the analyzed variables The use of low K+/Ca2+ ratios potentiated the effect of salinity on the plants / A produção e a qualidade de frutos da cultura do tomate, esta diretamente relacionada com a qualidade da água utilizada na irrigação e com o suprimento adequado de nutrientes, principalmente o potássio e o cálcio. Este trabalho foi realizado no Departamento de Ciências Ambientais e Tecnológicas da Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA), em Mossoró, RN, tendo como o objetivo avaliar o cultivo do tomate (Lycopersicumes culentum Mill), em ambiente protegido, utilizando irrigação com águas salinas, e fertirrigação com diferentes relações potássio:cálcio. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial 5 x 4, com quatro repetições. O experimento foi realizado em ambiente protegido utilizando substrato a base de fibra de coco. Os tratamentos foram formados pela combinação de cinco relações iônicas de potássio e cálcio (F1-K+/Ca2+=1,5:1; F2-K+/Ca2+=1,25:1; F3-K+/Ca2+=1:1; F4-K+/Ca2+=1:1,25 e F5-K+/Ca2+=1:1,5) utilizando soluções padrões para cada cultura, segundo literatura especializada, com quatro níveis de salinidade da água de irrigação (S1-0,5; S2-2,0; S3-3,5 e S4-5,0 dS m-1). A relação K+/Ca2+=1:1 correspondente a concentração desses nutrientes recomendada para a cultura em cultivo de tomateiro hidropônico. As plantas foram avaliadas quanto a variáveis de crescimento (altura, diâmetro do caule, número de folhas, área foliar, massa seca do caule, folhas, frutos e total), rendimento (número de frutos por planta, massa média de frutos e produção de frutos por planta) e qualidade de frutos (sólidos solúveis, acides total, ºBrix, Vitamina C e relação AT/SS). As relações K+/Ca2+ estudadas não mitigaram o efeito sobre as variáveis analisadas. O uso de baixas relações K+/Ca2+ potencializou o efeito da salinidade sobre as plantas / 2017-08-17

Derramamento de petróleo tem sido um evento comum em atividades marítimas ao redor do mundo. O ambiente antártico, no entanto, é considerado não-poluído ou menos poluído quando comparado a outros ambientes. A fração solúvel de petróleo (FSA) é mais danosa do que o derrame por si mesmo, então o uso de biomarcadores celulares para esse tipo de poluição é extremamente útil para avaliar os efeitos de pequenos níveis de poluição por petróleo no ambiente antártico. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo estudar, com microscopia de luz e eletrônica de transmissão, biomarcadores histológicos (Índice de Alterações Histológicas de brânquias e fígado, Valor Médio de Avaliação para brânquias e fígado, teste do micronúcleo em eritrócitos e rodlet cells - células de bastonetes - como um possível biomarcador) para poluição por petróleo no peixe antártico Trematomus newnesi expostos a diferentes concentrações de FSA (0; 0,4; 0,8 ppm) por 5, 10 e 15 dias. Alterações em análises hematológicas foram observadas em 15 dias no peixe controle (0 ppm de FSA), enquanto a histologia dos órgãos e a quantidade de células de bastonetes não revelou nenhuma alteração estatisticamente significante. Esta foi a primeira vez que o efeito deste tipo de poluição foi estudado utilizando-se o peixe antártico Trematomus newnesi como um possível bioindicador. / Oil spill and other pollutants have been a common event in shipping all over the world. Antarctic environment however is known as unpolluted or less polluted when compared to others. The water soluble fraction of oil (WSF) is more dangerous for marine species than the oil spill itself, thus the use of cellular biomarkers for this type of pollution is extremely useful to evaluate the effects of small levels of oil pollution in Antarctic environment. The present work aimed to study, with light microscopy and electronic transmission microscopy, histologic biomarkers (Histologic Alterations Index for gills and liver, Average Evaluation Value for both gills and liver, micronucleous test in erythrocytes, besides rodlet cells for a possible biomarker) for oil pollution in the Antarctic fish Trematomus newnesi exposed to different concentrations of WSF (0; 0.4; 0.8 ppm) for 5, 10 and 15 days. Alterations in hematological analysis was observed in 15 days control fish (0 ppm of WSF), whereas the organs histology and RC amount did not reveal any significant statistical alterations. This was the very first time that the effect of oil pollution was studied using the Antarctic fish Trematomus newnesi as a possible biomarker.

The design, construction and testing of a reverse-osmosis (PV-RO) desalination system for fresh water shortage area is presented. The system operates from salt water or brackish water and can be embedded in a renewable energy power supply system, since many fresh shortage areas are remote and isolated. Special attention is given to the energy efficiency of small-scale reverse osmosis desalination systems. Limitations of conventional control strategy using toggle control are presented. Based on this, an objective of creating a small-scale reverse osmosis desalination system was set out. Initially, the background information is presented. This includes the natural resources crisis and main desalination technologies and the viability of the integration with renewable energy source. A reverse osmosis (RO) desalination system was assembled and set up at the Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia Supervisor Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) system was built using a Human Machine Interface software and a programmable logic controller (PLC). Instrumentation that included signal conditioners was made in analysis of the system characteristics. Initial testing of the system was conducted after the system design and configuration was accomplished. Testing results were used as a guideline for the development of the whole system. / Modelling and simulation of the system components in MATLABSimulink is presented, together with a discussion of the control systems modelling and design procedure, in which the aim was to improve the efficiency of the reverse osmosis system. Simulations show the designed reverse osmosis system with Proportional Integral and Derivative (PID) controller has better performance than other controllers. This consequently leads to a lower overall cost of the water, as well as reducing full maintenance cost of the electric drives in the reverse osmosis unit. Additionally, the configuration of the remote control system through General Package Radio System (GPRS) network is depicted. After the PID control algorithm was programmed into the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), system experiments were carried out in short durations and long durations. System performance was monitored and experimental results prove that the new control strategy applied increase the water productivity and is able to improve the system efficiency up to 35%. Based on the data obtained from the simulations and experiments, Mundoo Island was chosen to be the location for a case study. The electric load profile of the island was derived from the Island Development Committee in Mundoo. / A water demand profile was created and modelled in Matlab to be the input of the reverse osmosis system. The electric load of the reverse osmosis system was generated from Matlab simulation. This result was entered in Hybrid Optimisation Model for Electric Renewables (HOMER) simulator. Having the designed RO unit as one of the electric loads, the entire remote area power supply (RAPS) system was tested in simulations which shows the energy cost is AUS$0.174 per kWh, lower than the Island Development Committee budget estimation of AUS$0.25 per kWh. The cost of the water treatment is very promising at AUS$0.77 per m3.