Sol-gel processing has been demonstrated to produce supported inorganic and hybrid microporous membranes with controlled physical and chemical properties under mild conditions. In preparing asymmetric membranes on mesoporous ceramic supports using traditional sol-gel processes, however, infiltration of the final coating material from smaller nanoparticles into the porous support can lead to unpredictable membrane thicknesses, poor reproducibility and reduced flux for separations.Herein we describe a size exclusion approach to prepare membranes by depositing well-defined relatively monodisperse particles on a mesoporous ceramic support. Ensuring that the particles remain on the surface by size exclusion can reduce or even eliminate infiltration. But if the porosity of the membrane top-layer is going to be finer than that of the support, it must be possible to sinter the particles to eliminate the interstitial porosity. Low temperature sintering is accomplished by preparing relatively compliant polysilsesquioxane particles through the introduction of organic substituents into the network of particles.To prepare membranes by size exclusion, we developed a sol-gel route to synthesize bridged polysilsesquioxane particles by polymerizing a dilute solution of monomers below their gelation concentration. Dynamic light scattering was used to monitor the particle size and size distributions during polymerizations up to the formation of gels. A membrane top-layer was successfully coated on a mesoporous titania-zirconia support through size exclusion of octylene- bridged polysilsesquioxane particles. To assist in determining if infiltration into the support has occurred and if particles are size-excluded from penetrating the support, we have covalently modified polysilsesquioxane particles with a fluorescent dye to provide direct visual evidence of the location of particles in the ceramic membrane. This is the first report of fluorescent diagnostics being used to detect infiltration and verify size exclusion of particles in asymmetric membrane deposition. We further created supported membranes of poly(phenylsilsesquioxane) through size exclusion of particles deposited on the support and then cured to establish a glassy, defect-free membrane coating without infiltration upon thermal exposure. Infiltration was verified with fluorescent dyes covalently bound into the particles. The size exclusion approach combined with fluorescent diagnostics allowed for the simplification of membrane formation and elimination of infiltration.

Leukocytes are activated in women with preeclampsia, but the class of leukocyte most likely to cause vascular dysfunction is not known. We hypothesized that neutrophils may be the class of leukocyte most involved in causing this dysfunction because neutrophils are the most abundant of the leukocytes and their numbers increase during pregnancy. In this study we compared vascular infiltration of neutrophils (CD66b) with monocytes/macrophages (CD14) and lymphocytes (CD99) in normal non-pregnant women (NNP), normal pregnant women (NP), and preeclamptic women (PE). There was no significant difference in the infiltration of lymphocytes into the maternal vasculature in PE as compared to NNP or NP. There was significantly more neutrophil infiltration into the systemic vasculature in PE women than in NP and NNP women. Monocytes/macrophages were present in tissue but not in vessels. We speculate that neutrophils are the class of leukocyte that causes the majority of vascular cell dysfunction in preeclampsia.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Knowledge about forests undergoing restoration across the world is becoming increasingly essential due to the benefits of restoring forest for ecosystem functions related to water, such as water infiltration. Although there is a growing literature regarding the biodiversity and some ecosystem functions in forest undergoing restoration, soil responses in these forests remain virtually unknown. Moreover, few works have analyzed the effects on soil of different restoration approaches (e.g., planting of native species and natural regeneration). In this context, the main objective of this work was to evaluate and gain a better understanding of the effects of different forest restoration methodologies on the recovery of soil physical and hydraulic properties, more specifically on water infiltration. In the first part of this study (Chapter 2) was conducted a systematic review of scientific literature, reporting and discussing the infiltration measures in tropical forests undergoing restoration by tree planting. The results of this review indicated that infiltration was likely to increase after tree planting; that infiltration recovery was faster when agriculture was the prior land use; that clayey soils (>30% clay) tended to exhibit greater increases in infiltration after tree planting; and that restored forests after 10 years evidenced more similar infiltration values with the pre-disturbance soil conditions (e.g., natural reference forest). The following two parts of the thesis (Chapter 3 and 4) were based on a restoration program using a high-diversity mix of native plantings in the county of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. In the Chapter 3 was investigated the effect of forest restoration on saturated soil hydraulic conductivity (Ks), verifying the Ks recovery to the pre-disturbance soil conditions. We sampled field Ks under three land-cover types: (i) a pasture; (ii) a restored forest of 9 years of age; and (iii) a remnant forest patch. Our results showed that Ks recovery differ markedly among the forests undergoing restoration; and that soil attributes and Ks recovery are influenced by the duration and intensity of land use prior to forest restoration. In the Chapter 4 we assessed the effects of land use history on the recovery of Ks, soil and vegetation attributes, comparing active vs. passive restoration (e.g., assisted restoration). In these chapters we conclude that forest restoration actions may improve soil physical and hydraulic properties, but in some cases a complete recovery to reference levels can be difficult, especially when land use was more intense prior to forest restoration actions. It is very important to understand soil recovery in forests undergoing restoration on different climate, forest and soil types. Thereby, in future research long-term studies are essential, which should focus in the water movement through the soil profile and aiming to understand how the forest restoration can recover the infiltration process, also including landscape scale (e.g., watershed). / O conhecimento sobre as florestas em processo de restauração florestal ao redor do mundo está cada vez mais em evidência, devido principalmente à sua importância nas funções ecossistêmicas relacionadas à água, tais como a promoção da infiltração. Contudo, apesar de existirem muitos estudos sobre áreas em restauração, abordando sua biodiversidade e algumas funções ecossistêmicas, o papel do solo nessas florestas em restauração permanece ainda pouco conhecido, por exemplo, poucos trabalhos têm analisado o efeito sobre o solo das diferentes estratégias de restauração (e.g., plantio de espécies nativas e regeneração natural). Nesse contexto, o objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar e obter uma melhor compreensão dos efeitos de diferentes metodologias de restauração florestal na recuperação das propriedades físicas e hídricas do solo, mais especificamente na recuperação da infiltração de água no solo. Na primeira parte desse estudo (Capítulo 2) foi realizada uma revisão sistemática da literatura científica, reportando e discutindo os resultados de trabalhos sobre infiltração de água no solo em florestas em processo de restauração nos Trópicos, por meio do plantio de árvores. Os resultados desses trabalhos mostraram que houve um aumento da infiltração após o plantio de árvores; também observamos que a recuperação da infiltração foi mais rápida quando a agricultura era o uso anterior do solo; que solos mais argilosos (>30% argila) tenderam a exibir maiores aumentos na infiltração após plantio de árvores; e que as florestas em restauração com 10 ou mais anos evidenciaram valores de infiltração mais similares com as condições pré-distúrbio do solo (e.g., floresta natural de referência). Os dois capítulos restantes do trabalho (Capítulos 3 e 4) foram realizadas em uma área em processo de restauração florestal, com plantio de espécies nativas e elevada diversidade, no município de Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil. No Capítulo 3 foi investigado o efeito da restauração florestal na condutividade hidráulica do solo (Ks), verificando a recuperação da Ks até as condições pré-distúrbio. A Ks foi amostrada no campo em três tipos de uso do solo: (i) pastagem; (ii) área em restauração com 9 anos de idade; e (iii) florestal natural remanescente. Os resultados desse capítulo mostraram que a recuperação da Ks diferiu entre as áreas em processo de restauração; e que os atributos do solo e a recuperação da Ks foram influenciados pela intensidade e tempo de uso do solo anterior à restauração florestal. No Capítulo 4 foi avaliado o efeito do histórico de uso do solo na recuperação da Ks, dos atributos do solo e da vegetação, comparando as estratégias de restauração ativa vs. passiva (e.g., restauração assistida). Nesses capítulos concluímos que as ações de restauração florestal podem melhorar as propriedades físicas e hídricas do solo, porém, a recuperação de valores próximos aos valores de referência tem grande dificuldade, especialmente quando a área em restauração teve um histórico de uso intenso do solo. É fundamental entender como ocorre a recuperação do solo nas áreas em processo de restauração ecológica em diferentes tipos de climas, florestas e solos. Assim, fica claro a necessidade de pesquisas de longo prazo que foquem no movimento da água no perfil do solo, visando entender como a restauração florestal recupera o processo de infiltração da água no solo, inclusive na escala de paisagem (e.g., bacia hidrográfica).

Le développement des moteurs aéronautiques du futur a permis d’accentuer les recherches concernant les matériaux composites thermostructuraux SiC/SiC. La voie classique d’élaboration de ces matériaux consiste en l’infiltration de la matrice via un procédé par voie gazeuse. Due à leur porosité résiduelle importante, ces matériaux possèdent une faible conductivité thermique. Cette dernière peut générer de forts gradients thermiques pouvant entrainer une rupture prématurée de la pièce. Afin de réduire cette porosité, un procédé alternatif peut être utilisé : l’infiltration par du silicium liquide (procédé MI : Melt Infiltration). L’objectif de ce travail est de comprendre l’ensemble des mécanismes intervenant au cours de l’infiltration du silicium au sein d’une préforme fibreuse composée de fibres SiC Hi-Nicalon S. Ce procédé nécessite une étape en amont de l’imprégnation du silicium consistant en l’introduction de particules de SiC au sein de la préforme.La première partie de ce travail a consisté d’une part, en la définition de l’architecture poreuse des matériaux et, d’autre part, en la réalisation de tests de montée capillaire en utilisant des fluides organiques modèles. A l’aide de l’équation de Washburn, il est ainsi possible d’identifier des tailles de pores caractéristiques au sein de la préforme fibreuse et de la matrice granulaire et de prévoir le courbes d’ascension capillaire du silicium liquide au sein des matériaux. La seconde partie de ce travail décrit la mise en place d’un four permettant de réaliser le suivi in-situ de la prise de masse en silicium au cours du procédé MI. Une comparaison entre les résultats expérimentaux et les courbes prévisionnelles obtenues à l’aide de l’équation de Washburn a ainsi pu être effectuée. La dernière partie de ce travail a consisté en la réalisation d’essai d’imprégnation partielle afin d’identifier les mécanismes de montée capillaire du silicium liquide durant le procédé MI. / The development of aeronautic engines increased the need in high temperature SiC/SiC composite researches. A standard way to proceed is to infiltrate the matrix by chemical vapor infiltration. Due to their high porosity, their thermal conductivity is generally low. This could lead to strong thermal gradients and an early failure in a harsh environment. To reduce porosity, an alternative process can be used: the infiltration of molten silicon (MI: Melt Infiltration). The aim of this work is to understand all mechanisms occurring during the infiltration of silicon in a fibrous preform composed of SiC Hi-Nicalon S fibers. This process needs a first step which consists in the introduction of SiC particles into the preform before the MI process.First, this work focused on the definition of the porous structure of studied materials and capillarity tests using wetting organic solvent. With the use of Washburn’s law, it was possible to identify pore sizes within the fibrous preform and the granular matrix, and so to predict the capillarity ascent graphs of molten silicon into our material. A second part was devoted to the conception of an infiltration furnace which allows in situ following of the samples weight gain. The correlation between graphs obtained with the Washburn model and the experimental process could be established. Finally, the last part of this work presents partial infiltrations of molten silicon into studied materials which permit to identify capillary mechanisms occurring during the MI process.

A project report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering. Johannesburg, 1997 / Detention storage IS a well tested, and generally accepted, method of attenuating flood hydrographs, but relatively littlo data is available from the monitoring of full scale instc'lations An onstrearn pond was constructed at Sunninqhill Park and details of 15 inflow and outflow hydro [Abbreviated Abstract. Open document to view full version] / MT2016

Due to an increased population and future risks of drought in Halmstad municipality, the pres- sure on water reservoirs increases. To address future challenges and decrease the dependency on large amounts of precipitation, Laholmsbuktens Water and Sewer as started to investigate the opportunity to re-infiltrate purified wastewater. Therefore, I studied the possibility to re- infiltrate purified wastewater into a pit and produce drinking water. To investigate the possibil- ity, I selected to conduct a literature study. I started to compile the limit values for drinking water and outflowing concentrations from Western shore wastewater treatment plant for all the substances I studied. Then I investigated the pits purification capacity, through comparing the concentration after purification of the pit with limit values I could establish which substances required further purification. The pits area requirement and suitable further purification treat- ment for the studied substances were also examined. The investigated substances are chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total nitrogen (tot-N), total phos- phorus (tot-P), ammonium, suspended solids, 7 heavy metals, 10 pharmaceuticals and 11 Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The results showed that COD, BOD, diklofenak, kar- bamazepin, zink and all PFAS-substances required further purification before the water entered the pit. The most suitable further purification for the studied substances established to be ultra- filtration as pre-treatment to reverse osmosis and it requires four 1.5 hectare basins to infiltrate the desired amount of water. Therefor the conclusion of this study is, that it is possible to create drinking water by infiltrating wastewater from Western shore wastewater treatment plant into the specific pit. However, the wastewater requires ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis treatment before infiltration in order to remove contamination that will not be removed by the infiltration process.

Orientador: Maria da Consolação Fonseca de Albuquerque / Resumo: Inúmeros problemas sociais e ambientais são causados pela impermeabilização dos solos em decorrência da urbanização descontrolada e sem planejamento. O pavimento em concreto permeável aparece como uma forma de mitigação de enchentes, devido à sua característica de permitir a infiltração total ou parcial de água proveniente de precipitações. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar um traço eficiente e empregá-lo de maneira efetiva em uma calçada, para promover a captação total de eventos pluviométricos ocorridos no local e observar, com o decorrer do tempo, a eficiência de manutenção periódica na superfície do pavimento permeável quanto à colmatação. Foram experimentadas três proporções de misturas: 1:3,5; 1:5 e 1:6,5, sendo que em nenhuma foi utilizado agregado miúdo. Também foi observado o comportamento das misturas com duas granulometrias de agregados graúdos de 9,5/25,0 e 4,75/12,5. Ensaios destrutivos e não destrutivos foram realizados, entre eles: resistência à compressão axial, tração por compressão diametral, tração na flexão e taxa de infiltração. A mistura mais eficiente e escolhida para a construção da calçada foi a de teor 1:5, com a utilização do agregado de faixa granulométrica 4,75/12,5. Testes estatísticos ―t Student” foram utilizados para comparar os resultados obtidos na presente pesquisa com trabalhos semelhantes. A calçada foi dimensionada para ter eficiência de caráter pluviométrico, de acordo com incidência pluviométrica regional e mecânico através de análi... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Uncounted social and environmental problems are caused by the waterproofing of soils as a result of uncontrolled and unplanned urbanization. The pervious concrete pavement appears as a form of flood mitigation due to its characteristic of allowing total or partial infiltration of water from rainfall. The aim of this work was to study an efficient mixture and to use it effectively on a sidewalk, to promote the total retention of rainfall events occurring locally and to observe the efficiency of periodic maintenance on the pervious pavement surface, regarding clogging over time. Three proportions of mixtures were tested: 1:3.5; 1:5 and 1:6.5, in which none fine aggregates was used. Furthermore, the behavior in the mixtures of two coarse aggregates gradations of 9.5/25.0 and 4.75/12.5 was observed. Destructive and non-destructive tests were performed, such as: compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength and infiltration rate. The most efficient and chosen mixture for the construction of the sidewalk was 1:5, with the use of the aggregate size 4.75/12.5. ―Student’s t‖ statistical tests were used to compare the results obtained in the present research with similar works. The sidewalk was dimensioned to have rainfall efficiency, according to regional rainfall incidence, and mechanical efficiency, through analysis in the EverFE computational program, followed by calculation of fatigue life. The permeability rate of the pavement was monitored weekly over time,... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Orientador: Silvio Jorge Coelho Simões / Banca: Paulo Valladares Soares / Banca: George de Paula Bernardes / Resumo: Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo principal elaborar uma proposta metodológica para gerar mapas de potencial de infiltração de caráter semi-qualitativo, em uma área de plantio de eucalipto, a Fazenda Santa Edwiges, Lorena (SP), localizada nas cabeceiras de drenagem da sub-bacia do Ribeirão Taboão. Os procedimentos baseiam-se na integração de informações cartográficas referentes à geologia, geomorfologia, geotecnia e cobertura vegetal, implementadas em ambiente SIG. O software ArcGIS® foi utilizado para análises espaciais avançadas, incluindo geoestatística, para a espacialização da porosidade total e textura do solo, e álgebra de mapas, para obter o produto final desejado. O intuito da utilização de tal metodologia foi o de relacionar os principais fatores que interferem no processo de infiltração avaliando suas peculiaridades, de modo que ao fim do trabalho pudesse ficar claro como cada elemento age dentro do geoecossistema em questão. Como a cobertura vegetal nessa área é alterada com os ciclos de plantio de eucalipto, dois cenários diferentes foram utilizados: logo após o plantio e com o eucalipto adulto. Os mapas de potencial de infiltração indicaram que as composições formadas na porção Sudeste da fazenda, combinando a geologia dos Granitóides, com solos predominantemente arenosos, com boa drenagem interna (alta porosidade) corresponderam às áreas que mais favorecem o processo de infiltração. Por outro lado, a combinação de declividades acentuadas, solos predominantemente argilosos em locais com alta densidade de linhas de escoamento e também de drenagem, caracterizara como as mais tendenciosas ao escoamento superficial. Os resultados finais puderam ser validados através de ensaios de condutividade hidráulica saturada obtidos em campo, caracterizando a viabilidade e aplicabilidade da metodologia proposta, que pode ser considerada não só uma... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This research had as main goal to create a methodology to generate semi-qualitative maps of the potential for water infiltration, in an area of eucalyptus plantations, the Farm St. Edwiges, Lorena (SP). The area is located in the headwaters zone of the Ribeirão Taboão watershed, Paraíba do Sul basin, Southeast Brazil. The procedures are based on the integration of cartographic information concerning the geology, geomorphology, geotechnical and vegetation cover, implementation in a GIS. The software ArcGIS® was used for advanced spatial analysis, including the analysis, including the geostatistics for spatialization of porosity and soil texture, and map algebra to obtain the desired final product. The purpose of this study was to correlate the main factors involved in the water infiltration evaluationg its peculiarities. As the vegetation in this area changes with the cycles of eucalyptus, two different scenarios were simulated: immediately after planting and adult eucalyptus. The maps of potential of water infiltration indicated that the southeast region of the study area, with geology composed of granitoids, sandy soils with high porosity corresponds to the areas with high infiltration potential. On the other hand, the combination of steep slopes with clay soils located in areas with high density of flow and drainage lines characterize the most popitious areas to runoff. The results can be validated through tests of hydraulic condutivity obtained in the field, characterizing the feasibility and applicability of the methodology, which can be considered not only a tool for the management of natural resources but also as an essential tools for decision making regarding the land use and occupation / Mestre

Este trabalho tem como objetivos avaliar, para eventos de chuvas simuladas, o comportamento hidráulico de uma trincheira de infiltração experimental instalada na EESC/USP e propor uma nova metodologia de dimensionamento para trincheiras de infiltração. Para realizar a avaliação, foram conduzidos ensaios experimentais para determinar o volume infiltrado, sendo este calculado pela diferença entre o volume de entrada, medido através de vertedor triangular, e o volume armazenado na trincheira, medido a partir de medidor de nível. Em relação à nova metodologia de dimensionamento, esta foi proposta com base no modelo de Green-Ampt adaptado ao processo de infiltração horizontal. Os parâmetros de entrada do modelo: umidade, potencial matricial e condutividade hidráulica saturada, foram determinados, respectivamente, através de sondas que utilizam a Reflectometria no Domínio do Tempo (TDR), por curvas de retenção determinadas em laboratório pela técnica do papel filtro e câmara de Richards e por ensaio laboratorial com permeâmetro de carga constante. As curvas de retenção além de serem determinadas por dois métodos laboratoriais também foram avaliadas em função da distribuição uni e bimodal do tamanho médio dos poros. Para isto, utilizou-se a tomografia computadorizada para analisar o comportamento dos poros no solo estudado. O solo onde foi instalada a trincheira constitui-se de areia média a fina argilosa e apresenta a condutividade hidráulica saturada em torno de 9,06.\'10 POT.-6\' m/s. A câmara de Richards foi o método de determinação da curva de retenção que melhor caracterizou o solo quanto à sua porosidade. Os resultados demonstraram que a trincheira de infiltração é eficiente, controlando 100% do volume escoado, mesmo para chuvas com intensidades superiores aos projetos de microdrenagem. Verificou-se também que o modelo de Green-Ampt se ajusta bem ao processo de infiltração horizontal e que a metodologia de dimensionamento proposta contribui de forma eficiente e economicamente eficaz para o dimensionamento de dispositivos de infiltração. / This work assessed the hydraulic behavior of a experimental infiltration trench built at the EESC/USP and proposed a new sizing methodology for infiltration trench, for simulated events. In order to evaluate the hydraulic behavior experimental tests were taken to determine the infiltrated volume. The infiltrated volume was calculated through the difference between the entry volume, obtained by triangular weir, and the volume stored in the trench, determined by level meter. The sizing methodology proposed was based on Green-Ampt model adapted to horizontal infiltration process. The model parameters: water content, pressure head and saturated hydraulic conductivity were determined by Time Domain Reflectometer, retention curve and constant head permeameter, respectively. Retention curves were determined applying two laboratorial methods: Richards camara and filter-paper method, and were evaluate by the unimodal and bimodal distributions of the medium size of the pores. Tomography computerized was used to analyze the behavior of the soil pores. Infiltration trench was installed in a sand soil which presents the saturated hydraulic conductivity around 9,06.\'10 POT.-6\' m/s. The Richards\'s camera was the method that better represented the soil porosity. The results proved the efficiency of the infiltration trench, which controlled 100% of the runoff, even for events with intensities greater than drainage systems design storms. It was also verified that Green-Ampt model has good adjustments to horizontal infiltration process and the sizing methodology proposed is efficient for sizing of infiltration dispositive.