Graffiti is a near constant problem for historic structures and monuments, particularly in urban environments. Currently available non-destructive techniques are not always adequate for graffiti removal. Acrylic spray paints, the most common graffiti material, are composed of polymers which are subject to degradation by ultraviolet light. The feasibility of using this mechanism as a tool for graffiti removal was explored through practical experiments. Red acrylic paint was sprayed onto samples Indiana limestone which were then exposed to UV-B light sources for two, four, and six weeks. Following exposure, samples were scrubbed with acetone, a common solvent used in graffiti removal. Relative differences in the paint removal on the treated and untreated sides were observed, with more paint being removed from the treated sides in some cases. Additional samples were coated with titanium dioxide and exposed to ultraviolet light, yielded a greater level of overall paint removal. It was concluded that this mechanism offers promise and warrants further study. / Department of Architecture

Cataract is the leading cause of blindness in the world and is defined by opacification of the normally transparent lens of the eye. The major avoidable cause of cataract is ultraviolet radiation (UVR), but no current strategies have been developed to prevent the onset of cataract. Apoptosis and internal and external antioxidant systems that inhibit apoptosis have been shown to play a significant role in cataractogenesis. The main purposes of this thesis were to study the time evolution of apoptosis, to develop the concept of a protection factor (PF), and to investigate the effect of thioltransferase (Grx1) and topical caffeine in UVR cataract development. Further, to elucidate pharmacokinetics and influence on iris diameter of topical caffeine. Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to UVR and TUNEL staining of the lens sections was analysed. Grx1+/+ and Grx1-/- mice were exposed to 5 sub-doses of UVR. Based on the difference of light scattering between Grx1+/+ and Grx1-/- mice, the concept of the PF was developed. Topical caffeine and a placebo were applied to the eyes of separate groups of Sprague Dawley rats that were exposed to sub-doses of UVR and protective effect was evaluated. Penetration of topical caffeine in Sprague Dawley rats to lens and blood was analysed by high performance liquid chromatography. Pupil diameter was measured in groups of unilaterally and bilaterally caffeine-treated ketamine/xylazine anesthetized Sprague Dawley rats. TUNEL-labeling peaked between 5 and 120 hours after UVR exposure. The PF of Grx1 was 1.3. Moreover, topically administered caffeine protected against UVR-induced cataract development with a PF of 1.23. Topical caffeine peaked at 30 min in the lens, increased up to 120 min in the blood and antagonized ketamine/xylazine-induced mydriasis. In conclusion, UVR induces apoptosis, which is evidenced by the peak of TUNEL-labeling at 24 hours after UVR exposure. The PF is an objective relative measure of protective properties that allows the comparison of different antioxidant systems and administered antioxidant substances. Grx1 and caffeine are protective against UVR-induced cataract. Topically administered caffeine penetrates to the lens and inhibits UVR-induced apoptosis. Additionally, a miotic effect of caffeine is described for the first time.

The growth and development of various meadow species was monitored while growing under enhanced UV-radiation in the natural light environment. Growth responses to supplementary ultraviolet-B (UV-B+A) were mostly inhibitory when compared to the ambient daylight treatment for Bellis perennis, Cardamine pratensis, Cynosurus critatus and Ranunculus ficaria. When the response of ultraviolet-A (UVA) treated plants were compared with those of the UV-B+A, differences were found which varied according to the species and parameter investigated. No correlation in B. perennis growth responses could be made with reallocation of carbohydrates or with photosynthesis. The stomata of B. perennis grown under enhanced UV-B+A were less capable of closing than those of the ambient plants. Increases in the concentration of UV-absorbing compounds were found in the UV radiation treatment when dry weight accumulation was inhibited in C. pratensis. To further understand the growth responses of the UV-A treatment and their relationship to the UV-B responses, polychromatic action spectra in the natural environment were employed. B. perennis had an action maximum in the UV-B (280-315 nm), while C. cristatus demonstrates no action in the UV-B but action in the UV-A region (315-400 nm). Dry weight accumulation was found to respond differently to UV treatments when investigating Arabidopsis thaliana ecotypes. UV-B+A treatment was found to inhibit dry weight accumulation in most ecotypes. When UV-B+A induced inhibition was expressed in terms of ambient growth rate for each ecotype, a linear relationship could be derived. The higher the growth rate the more susceptible the ecotype was to UV-B+A inhibition. The pertinence of the UV-A treatment and UV protocol is discussed. It is suggested that UV responses could alter the diversity of the meadow equilibrium and these effects could be exacerbated by water loss.

No description available.

Microbial pollution of water is one of the principal causes of life-threatening diarrheal diseases in the developing world. Ultraviolet (UV) light is increasingly recognized as a viable alternative for the disinfection of drinking water and wastewater in developed countries, but its feasibility in low-income areas has to be assessed further. The rural community of Cerro Grande, in Bolivia, has been hit by outbreaks of gastrointestinal diseases, so two UV-based disinfection systems were implemented there. One of them was a fabricated unit, with materials available locally, whereas the other was a commercially-available unit. The fabricated unit was validated following USEPA procedures and was modeled using computational fluid dynamics. It was observed that a UV-based disinfection system can be sustainable for as few as 20 users, and even for 48 users in areas with poor feed water quality and lacking an electrical grid and distribution network, with a monthly cost of US$2 / Environmental Engineering

Graduation date: 1939

Perchlorate is one of the major emerging contaminants of concern and has been found in soil and water systems throughout the United States. Human exposures to perchlorate could occur by ingestion of contaminated water and food as well as by skin contact. Studies show that perchlorate blocks the sodium iodide symporter (NIS) protein in human body, which results in several diseases. It has been demonstrated that perchlorate can be removed by Advanced Reduction Processes (ARPs) that combine chemical reductants (e.g. sulfite) with activating methods (e.g. UV light) in order to produce highly reactive reducing free radicals that are capable of rapid and effective perchlorate reduction. However, other compounds in a real system might inhibit or promote this reduction process. Natural organic matter (NOM) widely exists in the environment and it can absorb UV light, so it has the potential to influence the process of perchlorate reduction by ARPs that use UV light as the activating method. Therefore, batch experiments were conducted to obtain data on the impacts of natural organic matter and light intensity on destruction of perchlorate by the ARPs that use sulfite activated by ultraviolet light produced by low-pressure mercury lamps or KrCl excimer lamps. The results indicate that NOM strongly inhibits perchlorate removal by either the sulfite/UV-KrCl or the sulfite/UV-L ARP, because NOM competes with sulfite for UV light and can possibly scavenge sulfite radicals. Even though the absorbance of sulfite is much higher at UV wavelength of 222 nm than that at 254 nm, the results indicate that a higher portion of perchlorate was removed with the UV-L lamp than with the UV-KrCl lamp. The results of this study will help to develop the proper way to apply the ARPs in a real wastewater treatment plant.

This research examines the problem of urban open space design in the city with an increasing ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and covers aspects of behaviour scenarios, built sunshade design and choice of sunshade plants for landscaping / Thesis (PhDArchitectureandDesign)--University of South Australia, 2001

This research examines the problem of urban open space design in the city with an increasing ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and covers aspects of behaviour scenarios, built sunshade design and choice of sunshade plants for landscaping / Thesis (PhDArchitectureandDesign)--University of South Australia, 2001

This research examines the problem of urban open space design in the city with an increasing ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and covers aspects of behaviour scenarios, built sunshade design and choice of sunshade plants for landscaping / Thesis (PhDArchitectureandDesign)--University of South Australia, 2001