Engineering Commons^™

Urban Particulate Matter Casues Er Stress And The Unfolded Protein Response In Human Lung Cells, T. L. Watterson, B. Hamilton, Randy S. Martin, R. A. Coulombe Jr.

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Because of its presumed adverse health effects, particulate air pollution (PM) has received growing attention, but the cellular mechanisms by which PM exerts toxicity are not well elucidated. PM has been associated with early mortality from illnesses that share endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress as a mechanism of pathogenesis. In this study, we examined whether PM would induce the unfolded protein response (UPR) which is a cellular response to ER stress. Coarse (PM10) and fine (PM2.5) PM was collected from a single location in Northern Utah's Cache Valley during atmospheric inversions occurring in January 2002 and January 2003. Extracts of PM …

Effects Of Pm2.5 Collected From Cache Valley, Ut On Genes Associated With The Inflammatory Response In Human Lung Cells, T L. Watterson, J. Sorensen, Randy S. Martin, R. A. Coulombe Jr.

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

In January 2004, the normally picturesque Cache Valley in northern Utah made national headlines with the highest PM2.5 levels in the nation. Epidemiological studies linked exposure to particulate air pollution in other locations with stroke and Alzheimer's disease and to early mortality from all causes, cancer, and cardiopulmonary diseases. To determine potential effects of these particles on human health, human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) were cultured with PM2.5collected from various locations in the Cache Valley. These particles were slightly cytotoxic, but more potent than NH4NO3, the major chemical component of Cache Valley PM2.5. Gene expression analysis of PM2.5-exposed cells was …

Regulating Waste Discharge With Fuzzy Effluent Limitations For Toxic Pollutants, Tong Yin, David King Stevens

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Many traditional water quality standards are based on extreme percentiles; often, there is the risk of making wrong decisions with these standards because of high estimation uncertainty. Standards expressed as fuzzy intervals in the form of [trigger, enforcement limitation] make it possible to control the risks for the discharger and the consumer simul taneously. With fuzzy interval compliance, corrective action is initiated when the trigger is exceeded; noncompliance is declared when the en forcement limitation is exceeded. Fuzzy intervals would digest the risks that are inherent when a single enforcement limitation is used to determine compliance; the risks can be …

Production Of Bio-Hydrogen By Mesophilic Anaerobic Fermentation In An Acid-Phase Sequencing Batch Reactor, D. Y. Cheong, C. L. Hansen, David King Stevens

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

The pH and hydraulic retention time (HRT) of an anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (ASBR) were varied to optimize the conversion of carbohydrate-rich synthetic wastewater into bio-hydrogen. A full factorial design using evolutionary operation (EVOP) was used to determine the effect of the factors and to find the optimum condition of each factor required for high hydrogen production rate. Experimental results from 20 runs indicate that a maximum hydrogen production rate of 4,460-5,540 mL/L/day under the volumetric organic loading rate (VOLR) of 75 g-COD/L/day obtained at an observed design point of HRT = 8 h and pH = 5.7. The hydrogen …

Cee3030 - Uncertainty In Engineering Analysis, Spring 2006, Gilberto E. Urroz

Civil and Environmental Engineering - OCW

This course on uncertainty in engineering analysis can also be referred to as probability and statistics for engineers. In particular, we will deal with the applications of probability and statistics to problems related to civil and environmental engineering. Note: Technical Requirements, Maple 10 by Maplesoft

Cee3500 - Fluid Mechanics, Spring 2006, Gilberto E. Urroz

Civil and Environmental Engineering - OCW

Explores fluid properties, hydrostatics, fluid dynamics, similitude, energy and momentum principles, closed conduit flow, open channel flow, and flow measurement. Includes laboratory exercises in flow measurement, open channel flow, pipe friction, physical modeling, and data collection.

Cee6510 - Numerical Methods In Civil Engineering, Spring 2006, Gilberto E. Urroz

Civil and Environmental Engineering - OCW

Engineering applications of approximation and interpolation, solution methods for ordinary differential equations, numerical solution of partial differential equations, nonparametric and parametric probability and regression estimation, and Monte Carlo and uncertainty analysis.

Technical Requirements: Maple 10 by Maplesoft,

Matlab

Impacts Of The 2004 Tsunami On Groundwater In Sri Lanka, T. Illangasekare, S. W. Tyler, T. P. Clement, K. G. Villholth, A. P.G.R.L. Perera, J. Obeysekera, A. Gunatilaka, C. R. Panabokke, D. W. Hyndman, K. J. Cunningham, W-G. Yeh, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi, M-Rien Van Genuchten, K. Jensen

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

The 26 December 2004 tsunami caused widespread destruction and contamination of coastal aquifers across southern Asia. Seawater filled domestic open dug wells and also entered the aquifers via direct infiltration during the first flooding waves and later as ponded seawater infiltrated through the permeable sands that are typical of coastal aquifers. In Sri Lanka alone, it is estimated that over 40,000 drinking water wells were either destroyed or contaminated. From February through September 2005, a team of United States, Sri Lankan, and Danish water resource scientists and engineers surveyed the coastal groundwater resources of Sri Lanka to develop an understanding …

Treating Soil Pentachlorophenol (Pcp) At Optimal Conditions Using Heme And Peroxide, Shyi Tien Chen, David King Stevens, Guyoung Kang, M. J. Hsieh

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

The environmental impact of pentachlorophenol (PCP) has been the subject of extensive research in recent years. Investigations of PCP degradation using both biotic and abiotic methods are extensively reported in literature. Based on some preliminary tests (not shown), an abiotic method was found for oxidative PCP degradation in soil under unsaturated conditions and a neutral pH. Reagents used were heme (a catalyst) and peroxide (an oxidant). From two screening tests (not shown), the heme and peroxide were identified as the most important factors on PCP degradation in highly PCP-contaminated soil. The objective of this study was to determine the optimum …

Assessment Of Aquifer Vulnerability Due To Heavy Metals Using Ordinal Logistic Regression Analysis, N. K. Twarakavi, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

A methodology using ordinal logistic regression is proposed to predict the probability of occurrence of heavy metals in ground water. The predicted probabilities are defined with reference to the background concentration and the maximum contaminant level. The model is able to predict the occurrence due to different influencing variables such as the land use, soil hydrologic group (SHG), and surface elevation. The methodology was applied to the Sumas-Blaine Aquifer located in Washington State to predict the occurrence of five heavy metals. The influencing variables considered were (1) SHG; (2) land use; (3) elevation; (4) clay content; (5) hydraulic conductivity; and …

Implications Of On-Ground Nitrogen Loading And Soil Transformations On Ground Water Quality Management, M. Almasri, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper presents a modeling approach based on a geographic information system (GIS) to estimate the variability of on-ground nitrogen loading and the corresponding nitrate leaching to ground water. The methodology integrates all point and nonpoint sources of nitrogen, the national land cover database, soil nitrogen transformations, and the uncertainty of key soil and land use-related parameters to predict the nitrate mass leaching to ground water. The analysis considered 21 different land use classes with information derived from nitrogen sources such as fertilizer and dairy manure applications, dairy lagoons, septic systems, and dry and wet depositions. Simulations were performed at …

Bie6300 - Irrigation & Conveyance Control Systems, Spring 2004, Gary P. Merkley

Biological and Irrigation Engineering - OCW

This is a course regarding measurement of flow rates and water levels. Calibration, design, and selection of open-channel flow measurement structures. Design of irrigation conveyance and distribution system infrastructure.

Ece3260 - Science Of Sound, Spring 2004, Paul Wheeler

Electrical and Computer Engineering - OCW

Welcome to Science of Sound. This course is offered as a regular class Fall Semesters on the USU campus in Logan, Utah. It is also available over the internet Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters, or as a yearlong independent-studies course. In each case, work is submitted using the internet. The only difference in the regular class held Fall semester is that students meet with the professor three times a week to discuss the material in the text. A teaching assistant is assigned to answer questions via the internet. The course consists of reading the text, supplementing concepts using the Internet, …

Bie6810 - Biochemical Engineering, Spring 2004, Ron Sims

Biological and Irrigation Engineering - OCW

Biochemical processes, thermodynamics, and kinetics are used in the application of engineering principles to analyze, design, and develop processes using biocatalysts. Processes covered in the course include those that are involved in the formation of desirable compounds and products or in the transformation, or destruction of unwanted or toxic substances.

Cee6880 - Soil-Based Hazardous Waste Management, Spring 2004, Ron Sims

Civil and Environmental Engineering - OCW

Engineering management of hazardous wastes present in the vadose zone, including extraction, containment, and biological, chemical, and physical destruction technologies. Aspects include engineering characterization, problem definition, treatment, and monitoring. Analysis and design emphasized through problems, examinations, and report writing.

Technical Requirements: A PC is required to run the Fugacity Calculator.

Bie6150 - Surface Irrigation Design, Spring 2004, Wynn Walker

Biological and Irrigation Engineering - OCW

This course was originally developed for the United States Department of Agriculture. It contains nearly 20 video lecture presentations with accompanying slides in English, Arabic, and French, an online textbook, homework assignments, and downloadable surface irrigation simulation software also developed by Dr. Walker. This course highlights design and evaluation of surface irrigation systems, field measurements for evaluating and improving uniformity and efficiency, simulation of surface systems, and land leveling computation and equipment. Note: The simulation software is designed to run on a PC only.

Bie6110 - Sprinkle & Trickle Irrigation, Fall 2003, Gary P. Merkley

Biological and Irrigation Engineering - OCW

This is a course regarding technical design and evaluation of pressurized agricultural irrigation systems, including system layout, pipe sizing, water applicator selection, pumping system hydraulics, water filtration requirements, and water application uniformity and efficiency.

Applicability Of Risk-Based Management And The Need For Risk-Based Economic Decision Analysis At Hazardous Waste Contaminated Sites, I. Khadam, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Decision analysis in subsurface contamination management is generally carried out through a traditional engineering economic viewpoint. However, new advances in human health risk assessment, namely, the probabilistic risk assessment, and the growing awareness of the importance of soft data in the decision-making process, require decision analysis methodologies that are capable of accommodating non-technical and politically biased qualitative information. In this work, we discuss the major limitations of the currently practiced decision analysis framework, which evolves around the definition of risk and cost of risk, and its poor ability to communicate risk-related information. A demonstration using a numerical example was conducted …

Parameter Estimation Using Artificial Neural Network And Genetic Algorithm For Free-Product Migration And Recovery, J. Morshed, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Artificial neural network (ANN) is considered to be a universal function approximator, and genetic algorithm (GA) is considered to be a robust optimization technique. As such, ANN regression analysis and ANN-GA optimization techniques can be used to perform inverse groundwater modeling for parameter estimation. In this manuscript the applicability of these two techniques in solving an inverse problem related to a light-hydrocarbon-contaminated site is assessed. The critical parameters to be evaluated are grain-size distribution index α and saturated hydraulic conductivity of water Ksw, since these parameters control free-product volume predictions and flow. A set of published data corresponding to a …

Optimizing Separate Phase Light Hydrocarbon Recovery From Contaminated Unconfined Aquifers, G. S. Cooper, Richard C. Peralta, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

A modeling approach is presented that optimizes separate phase recovery of light non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPL) for a single dual-extraction well in a homogeneous, isotropic unconfined aquifer. A simulation/regression/optimization (S/R/O) model is developed to predict, analyze, and optimize the oil recovery process. The approach combines detailed simulation, nonlinear regression, and optimization. The S/R/O model utilizes nonlinear regression equations describing system response to time-varying water pumping and oil skimming. Regression equations are developed for residual oil volume and free oil volume. The S/R/O model determines optimized time-varying (stepwise) pumping rates which minimize residual oil volume and maximize free oil recovery while …

Effect Of Subsurface Heterogeneity On Free-Product Recovery From Unconfined Aquifers, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Free-product record system designs for light-hydrocarbon-contaminated sites were investigated to evaluate the effects of subsurface heterogeneity using a vertically integrated three-phase flow model. The input stochastic variable of the areal flow analysis was the log-intrinsic permeability and it was generated using the Turning Band method. The results of a series of hypothetical field-scale simulations showed that subsurface heterogeneity has a substantial effect on free-product recovery predictions. As the heterogeneity increased, the recoverable oil volume decreased and the residual trapped oil volume increased. As the subsurface anisotropy increased, these effects together with free- and total-oil contaminated areas were further enhanced. The …

Critical Assessment Of The Operator-Splitting Technique In Solving The Advection-Dispersion-Reaction Equation: 1. First-Order Reaction, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi, Jahangir Morshed

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Operator-splitting technique (OST) is a common mathematical approach used in the solution of the advection-dispersion-reaction equation (ADRE), especially in the presence of biological decay, where the scales of transport and biological decay are far apart. The OST introduces a time-lag between the advection-dispersion and reaction stages by splitting the ADRE causing a breakdown of the physics of the problem, thus limiting its applicability. In this work, the applicability of the operator splitting technique is studied in parts. This first manuscript addresses the critical limitations of the operator-splitting technique as related to first-order decay, and the second manuscript extends the work …

Critical Assessment Of The Operator-Splitting Technique In Solving The Advection-Dispersion-Reaction Equation: 2. Monod Kinetics And Coupled Transport, Jahangir Morshed, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

In the first manuscript of this two-part series, the behavior of the inherent time-lag error in the operator-splitting technique has been discussed. However, the discussion has been limited to the advection-dispersion-reaction equation with first-order kinetics. In this manuscript, the discussion is extended to address the applicability of the operator-splitting technique in solving the advection-dispersion-reaction equation with Monod kinetics. The discussion also considers the two-species coupled transport problem. The results of the analysis show that the behavior of the time-lag error causing a mass balance error is rather similar to those observed with first-order kinetics. The time-lag error directly depends on …

Design Factors For Improving The Efficiency Of Freeproduct Recovery Systems In Unconfined Aquifers, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi, R. Elliot

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Free-product recovery system designs for light hydrocarbon recovery were investigated to evaluate the effects of multiple-stage pumping, delayed startup, and uncertainty of key residual oil saturation input data using a vertically integrated three-phase flow model, ARMOS. The results obtained from a single well recovery system subjected to a given well location and uniform soil properties suggested that multiple-stage water pumping can enhance the recovery and provide optimal design conditions if cost and recovery oil volume are the targets. However, if containment of the spill area with simultaneous recovery is the target, then single-stage pumping still provides the optimal design. Delayed …

Comparing Simulated And Experimental Hysteretic Two-Phase Transient Fluid Flow Phenomena, R. J. Lenhard, J. C. Parker, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

A hysteretic model for two-phase permeability (k)-saturation (S)-pressure (P) relations is outlined that accounts for effects of nonwetting fluid entrapment. The model can be employed in unsaturated fluid flow computer codes to predict temporal and spatial fluid distributions. Consideration is given to hysteresis in S-P relations caused by contact angle, irregular pore geometry, and nonwetting fluid entrapment effects and to hysteresis in k-Srelations caused by nonwetting fluid entrapment effects. An air-water flow experiment is conducted with a 72-cm vertical soil column where the water table is fluctuated to generate scanning S-P paths. Water contents are measured via a gamma radiation …

A Numerical Model For Areal Migration Of Water And Light Hydrocarbon In Unconfined Aquifers, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi, J. C. Parker, R. J. Lenhard

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

A finite element model has been developed to simulate simultaneous flow of water and light hydrocarbon in an areal flow region of an unconfined aquifer for analyses of hydrocarbon spreading from subsurface leaks or spills and for use in design of free product recovery systems. Vertically integrated governing equations for water and oil flow are employed which assume local vertical equilibrium and negligible gas pressure gradients. Multiple water and free product recovery wells are handled as internal type-I boundary conditions by stipulating air-oil table elevation and free product height with corrections to convert grid averaged nodal heads to actual well …

Finite Element Model Of Nitrogen Species Transformation And Transport In The Unsaturated Zone, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi, J. C. Parker

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

A two-dimensional finite element model based on Galerkin's weighted residual approach and incorporating an upstream weighting technique was developed to predict the simultaneous transformation and transport of nitrogen species. The nitrogen cycle used in the analyses assumes first-order rate coefficients for nitrification, denitrification, immobilization and mineralization between the nitrogen species NH +4, NO -3, organic-N and denitrified fractions. The NO -3-N component in the soil solution was assumed to have negligible adsorption on exchange sites while adsorption of NH +4 was assumed to be represented by a Freundlich type nonlinear isotherm ( S = kdCp). The accuracy and validity of …

Effects Of Hysteresis With Air Entrapment On Water Flow In The Unsaturated Zone, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi, J. C. Parker

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Effects of hysteresis with air entrapment on water content and head distributions, surface fluxes, and water balance components are investigated by finite element simulations of flow in one- and two-dimensional spatial domains. Results of one-dimensional analyses indicate that effects of hysteresis are markedly influenced by surface boundary conditions and to a lesser extent by initial conditions. Stipulation of flux-controlled boundary conditions results in minimal hysteretic effects, while potential-type boundary conditions produce substantial deviations between hysteretic and nonhysteretic simulations. The latter effects are attributable in large part to differences in surface conductivity associated with air entrapment. Predicted water content distributions for …

Finite Element Analysis Of Water Flow In Variably Saturated Soils, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi, J. C. Parker

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

A two-dimensional Galerkin finite element model for water flow in variably saturated soil is presented. A fourth-order Runge-Kutta time integration method is employed which allows use of time steps at least 2 times greater than for a traditional finite difference approximation of time derivatives. For short total simulation times computer execution costs for the Runge-Kutta method are greater than for the finite difference approximation due to the start up cost of the Runge-Kutta method, but for longer simulation times the Runge-Kutta method requires considerably less computational effort even when automatic time-step adjustment is used with the finite difference procedure. A …

Infiltration Into Decomposed Granite Soils; Numerical Modeling, Applications And Some Laboratory Observations, A. W. Jayawardena, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper describes the outcome of a study on rain infiltration into decoposed granite which is one of the two main types of soils found in Hong Kong. It consists of the development and verification of a finite element based numerical model which has general applicability for flow through unsaturated porous media, application of the model for predicting moisture movement in an artificial slope made out of reconstituted decomposed granite and some laboratory observations including the estimation of soil hydraulic parameters.