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Effect Of Backwashing On Perchlorate Removal In Fixed Bed Biofilm Reactors, Young Chul Choi, Xu Li, Lutgarde Raskin, Eberhard Morgenroth

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

The influence of backwashing on biological perchlorate reduction was evaluated in two laboratory scale fixed bed biofilm reactors using 1- or 3-mm glass beads as support media. Influent perchlorate concentrations were 50 μg/L and acetate was added as the electron donor at a concentration of 2 mg C/L. Perchlorate removal was evaluated at various influent dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations. Complete perchlorate removal was achieved with an influent DO concentration of 1 mg/L resulting in bulk phase DO concentrations below the detection limit of 0.01 mg/L. The influence of increasing influent DO concentrations for 12 h periods was evaluated before and …

Poster Session, Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, University Of Kentucky

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

• Identification of potential bacterial sources and levels, Red Duck Creek, Mayfield, Kentucky, Brooke Vorbeck, Travis Martin, and Mike Kemp, Dept of Industrial and Engineering Technology, Murray State University
• Water-quality trend analysis for streams in Kentucky, A.S. Crain and G.R. Martin, USGS, Louisville
• Preliminary Results of a Fecal Microbe Survey in a Eutrophic Lake, Wilgreen Lake, Madison County, Kentucky, W.S. Borowski and M.S. Albright, Depts of Earth Sciences and Geography, EKU
• Preliminary Physical and Chemical Characteristics of an Eutrophic Lake, Wilgreen Lake, Madison County, Kentucky, E.C. Jolly and W.S. Borowski, Dept of Earth Sciences, EKU
• Lethal and …

Session 1c: Epscor Projects, Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, University Of Kentucky

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

• Colloidal Arsenic in Poultry-Litter Amended Soils, Lisa Y. Blue and others, Dept of Chemistry, UK
• Environmental Monitoring and Assessment of Arsenic Metal in Groundwater Samples from Ballard, Carlisle, and Graves Counties, Kentucky, H.B. Fannin and others, Dept of Chemistry, Murray State University
• Environmental Monitoring and Assessment of the Groundwater Quality in Calloway County, Kentucky, Dan Kotter and others, KGS, Henderson, KY
• Land-Use Effects on Water Quality Within Lower Howard Creek Watershed, Southwestern Clark County, Kentucky, S.D. Daugherty and J.S. Dinger, Dept Earth & Environmental Sciences and KGS, UK

Session 1b: Student Research Projects, Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, University Of Kentucky

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

• Experimental Study of the Impact of Upland Sediment Supply upon Cohesive Streambank Erosion Part I: Fluid Turbulence, Brian Belcher and Jimmy Fox, Dept of Civil Engineering, UK
• Toward Using a Three-Dimensional Numerical Model for Simulating Hydrodynamics Near a Dam for Constructing the Rating Curve, Z.S. Shao and S.A. Yost, Dept of Civil Engineering, UK
• Property Taxation and Forest Fragmentation in Kentucky Watersheds, Scott Brodbeck and Tamara Cushing, Dept of Forestry, UK
• Solute and Particle Tracer Movement Under Various Flow Conditions in a Karst Groundwater Basin, Inner Bluegrass Region, Kentucky, J.W. Ward and others, Dept Earth and …

Session 1a: Microbial Source Tracking, Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, University Of Kentucky

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

• Detecting Multiple Source Origins from Fecal Bacteria Antibiotic Resistance Patterns, Sloane Ritchey and M.S. Coyne, Environmental Research Institute, EKU and Dept of Plant and Soil Sciences, UK
• Microbial Source Tracking; Limits and Application, Steve Evans, Third Rock Consultants, Lexington
• Triplett Creek Focus Study, Brian Reeder and April Haight, Institute for Regional Analysis and Public Policy, Morehead State University

Proceedings Of 2007 Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium, Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, University Of Kentucky

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

This conference was planned and conducted as part of the state water resources research annual program with the support and collaboration of the Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Kentucky Research Foundation, under Grant Agreement Number 06HQGR0087.

The views and conclusions contained in this document and presented at the symposium are those of the abstract authors and presenters and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the U.S. Government or other symposium organizers and sponsors.

Feasibility Study Of Variance Reduction In The Logistics Composite Model, George P. Cole Iii

Theses and Dissertations

The Logistics Composite Model (LCOM) is a stochastic, discrete-event simulation that relies on probabilities and random number generators to model scenarios in a maintenance unit and estimate optimal manpower levels through an iterative process. Models such as LCOM involving pseudo-random numbers inevitably have a variance associated with the output of the model for each run, and the output is actually a range of estimates. The reduction of the variance in the results of the model can be costly in the form of time for multiple replications. The alternative is a range of estimates that is too wide to realistically apply …

Decision Analysis With Value Focused Thinking As A Methodology To Select Building For Deconstruction, Erika E. Maiorano

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to examine the reuse and recycling of building materials on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. There are a variety of conflicting factors concerning the removal of a building and the model quantitatively evaluates alternatives with respect to the decision maker’s values. The research questions were addressed with both a comprehensive literature review as well as the implementation of the value focused thinking methodology. The model found that the temporary living facilities are the alternatives that achieve the highest value. The result of this research effort was a value model that aids decision makers in identifying …

Calibration Procedure For A Microscopic Traffic Simulation Model, Carole Turley

Theses and Dissertations

The inputs to a microscopic traffic simulation model generally include quantitative, but immeasurable data describing driver behavior and vehicle performance characteristics. Engineers often use default values for parameters such as car-following sensitivity and gap acceptance because it can be difficult to obtain accurate estimates for these parameters. While recent research has indicated that the accuracy of a simulation model can significantly improve if driver behavior parameters are calibrated to local data, this is not a typical practice. Manual calibration of these parameters is often too time-consuming to be cost-effective. Researchers have applied automated calibration procedures using genetic algorithms to these …

Structure And Nitrogen Chemistry In Coal, Biomass, And Cofiring Low-Nox Flames, Bradley David Damstedt

Theses and Dissertations

Addressing global climate change will require increasing sustainable energy usage. Cofiring biomass fuels with coal for electrical power generation is an efficient, cost effective method of CO2 mitigation. This work is an experimental investigation of the flame structure and nitrogen chemistry differences occurring between coal, biomass and cofiring flames. A pilot-scale facility was fired with a dual-feed low-NOx burner capable of independently conveying 2 separate fuels unblended to the burner. Spatially detailed gas species measurements were made for 8 flames, including a coal, straw, finely ground straw, wood, and 4 straw/coal cofiring flames. Particle samples were also obtained from 5 …

High Resolution Mesoscale Weather Data Improvement To Spatial Effects For Doserate Contour Plot Predictions, Christopher P. Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Reanalysis weather data is obtained for dates surrounding historical nuclear tests and processed through Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) software to produce a high-resolution weather forecast. Output from RAMS is visualized to check for validity and input into Hazard Prediction and Assessment Capability (HPAC) software and modeled predictions are compared to historical observation data. Simulations are conducted using constant high resolution weather and varying terrain resolution. The HPAC prediction is numerically compared to historical observation data. The result of this research culminated in the knowledge that early-time, low-altitude wind data was neglected by HPAC's incorporation of the Defense Land Fallout …

Performance Characteristics Of A Therapeutic Ultrasound Wire Waveguide, Graham Gavin, Garrett Mcguinness, Finbar Dolan, M.S. Hashmi

Articles

Therapeutic ultrasound angioplasty has been investigated, clinically, by a number of researchers and represents a potentially promising therapy for the treatment of atherosclerotic lesions. To date, there has been no detailed analysis of the effect of mechanical design parameters, such as wire geometry or damping characteristics, on wire waveguide performance. An apparatus capable of delivering therapeutic ultrasound down small diameter nickel–titanium (NiTi) wire waveguides is described. The output peak-to-peak (p–p) displacements at the distal tip of a 1.0mm diameter waveguide were measured experimentally, by means of an optical microscope and image analysis software. The output was measured for a range …

Analysis Of Fat Intake Based On The U.S. Department Of Agriculture’S 1994–96, 1998 Continuing Survey Of Food Intakes By Individuals (Csfii), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

United States Environmental Protection Agency: Publications

Many chemicals found in the environment tend to accumulate in fatty tissue. Assessing potential risks from these chemicals in food requires knowledge of dietary habits and the amount of fat present in various types of foods. The National Center for Environmental Assessment of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Office of Research and Development has conducted an analysis of fat consumption across the U.S. population. The analysis used data derived from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 1994–96 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII) and its 1998 Supplemental Children’s Survey and the EPA’s Food Commodity Intake Database (FCID). Percentiles …

Characterization Of Dairy Milk House Waste Water In Kentucky, Anshu Singh, Czarena L. Crofcheck, Gail M. Brion

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

This study focuses on characterization of milk house waste water from eight different farms in Kentucky. The farms were separated into three groups based on the number of cows: small (20-30), medium (30-60), and large (over 60 cows). Samples were collected once a month from four farms and twice a month from the remainder. Samples were analyzed for chemical, biochemical, and microbiological characteristics. Results indicated a large and significant variation in the chemical and microbiological characteristics between the farms. Farm size had a significant effect on the nutrient content of the waste water. Though samples exhibited seasonal variation, there was …

Dairy Waste Utilization Management Tool, José R. Bicudo, Anshu Singh

Agricultural Engineering Extension Publications

Quick tests enabling rapid, on‑farm assessment of manure nutrient content can significantly enhance manure management practices. Rapid or quick tests are less accurate than standard laboratory analyses but can be useful as a manure utilization tool.

A Distributed Model Of Carbohydrate Transport And Metabolism In The Liver During Rest And High-Intensity Exercise, E Chalhoub, L. Xie, V. Balasubramanian, Joanne M. Belovich

Chemical & Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

A model of reaction and transport in the liver was developed that describes the metabolite concentration and reaction flux dynamics separately within the tissue and blood domains. The blood domain contains equations for convection, axial dispersion, and transport to the surrounding tissue; and the tissue domain consists of reactions representing key carbohydrate metabolic pathways. The model includes the metabolic heterogeneity of the liver by incorporating spatial variation of key enzymatic maximal activities. Simulation results of the overnight fasted, resting state agree closely with experimental values of overall glucose uptake and lactate output by the liver. The incorporation of zonation …

In Vitro Cell Culture Infectivity Assay For Human Noroviruses, Timothy M. Straub, Kerstin Höner Zu Bentrup, Patricia Orosz Coghlan, Alice Dohnalkova, Brooke K. Mayer, Rachel A. Bartholomew, Catherine O. Valdez, Cynthia J. Bruckner-Lea, Charles P. Gerba, Morteza A. Abbaszadegan, Cheryl A. Nickerson

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Human noroviruses cause severe, self-limiting gastroenteritis that typically lasts 24–48 hours. Because of the lack of suitable tissue culture or animal models, the true nature of norovirus pathogenesis remains unknown. We show that noroviruses can infect and replicate in a 3-dimensional (3-D), organoid model of human small intestinal epithelium. Cells grown on porous collage-coated beads under fluid shear conditions in rotating wall vessel bioreactors differentiate into 3-D architectures resembling both the morphologic and physiologic function of in vivo tissues. Microscopy, PCR, and fluorescent in situ hybridization provided evidence of norovirus infection. Cytopathic effect and norovirus RNA were detected at each …

Quantitative Regional Associations Between Remodeling, Modeling, And Osteocyte Apoptosis And Density In Rabbit Tibial Midshafts, Nicole L. Hedgecock, Tamer Hadi, Andrew A. Chen, Shane B. Curtiss, R. Bruce Martin, Scott J. Hazelwood

Biomedical Engineering

Evidence suggests that osteocyte apoptosis is involved in the adaptive response of bone, although the specific role of osteocytes in the signaling mechanism is unknown. Here, we examined and correlated regional variability in indices of remodeling, modeling, osteocyte apoptosis, and osteocyte density in rabbit tibia midshafts. Histomorphometric analysis indicated that remodeling parameters (BMU activation frequency, osteon density, forming osteon density, and resorption cavity density) were lower in the cranial region compared to other quadrants. In addition, pericortical subregions displayed less remodeling relative to intracortical and endocortical ones. Modeling indices also demonstrated regional variability in that periosteal surfaces exhibited a greater …

Medical Diagnostic Ultrasound, E. Carr Everbach

Engineering Faculty Works

As early as 250 BCE, captains of ancient Greek ships would drop lead weights overboard to provide an estimate of water depth. They would count until those “sounders” produced an audible thud and in that way measure the propagation time of the falling weight. Even though the practice has given way to other technologies for sounding, one still hears the phrase “to sound something out.” In the 17th century, Isaac Newton became fascinated with sound propagation and was one of the first to describe relationships between the speed of sound and measurable properties of the propagation medium, such as density …

Crop Residue Effects On Runoff Nutrient Concentrations Following Manure Application, Jeffrey E. Nicolaisen, John E. Gilley, Bahman Eghball, David B. Marx

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Manure is applied to cropland areas managed under diverse conditions, resulting in varying amounts of residue cover. The objective of this study was to measure the effects of crop residue on nutrient concentrations in runoff from areas where beef cattle or swine manure were recently applied but not incorporated. Plots 0.75 m wide by 2 m long were established at the study site. Existing residue materials were removed, and corn, soybean, or winter wheat residue was added at rates of 2, 4, or 8 Mg ha⁻¹. Manure was then applied at rates required to meet estimated annual nitrogen …

Diffusion Of Innovation: Factors Promoting Interest In Solar Photovoltaic Generation Systems Within Air Force Installations, Daniel Diaz Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to identify factors which promote interest in solar photovoltaic generation systems for facility use within the United States Air Force. The construct model was developed based on past literature on Diffusion of Innovation Theory. The model comprised of measures defined as motivation, knowledge, experience, and familiarity as well as contextual variables. These measures were then used to determine whether any significant association existed between the measures and the overall dependent variable, interest. A phone interview was conducted on Air Force energy managers located within the continental U.S. The methods of correlation and regression analysis …

Quantification Of Risk For Usaf Fire And Emergency Services Flights As A Result Of Shortage In Manpower, Timothy D. Dalby

Theses and Dissertations

The United States Air Force (USAF) is currently experiencing a period of high operations tempo and overseas deployments have become frequent. These deployments will leave home installations short manned. Some amount of risk is incurred by the home installation as a result of the short manning. For an organization, such as an USAF Fire and Emergency Services (FES) flight, whose primary responsibility is the protection of life and property, the incurred risk could be catastrophic. Still no attempt has been made to quantify risk in terms of manpower for the USAF FES flights. The primary purpose of this research was …

Automatic Target Recognition User Interface Tool, David A. Kerns

Theses and Dissertations

A computer tool to aid in selecting the best Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) algorithm is developed. The program considers many quantifiers, accepts user-defined parameters, allows for changes in the operational environment and presents results in a meaningful way. It is written for Microsoft Excel. An ATR algorithm assigns a class label to a recognized target. General designations can include "Friend" and "Foe." The error of designating "Friend" as "Foe" as well as "Foe" as "Friend" comes with a high cost. Studying each algorithm's error can minimize this cost. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves provide only information on the probabilities given …

Using Value-Focused Thinking To Evaluate The Use Of Innovative Stormwater Management Technologies On Air Force Installations, Jeffrey T. Falcone

Theses and Dissertations

Stormwater runoff occurs naturally after every storm event; however, traditional development practices have created many impervious surfaces, such as buildings, parking lots, and streets that increase runoff volume and flow rate. Conventional stormwater management practices focus on collecting runoff into centralized channels and conveying it as quickly as possible to local bodies of water. This type of conveyance system decreases the opportunity for stormwater to naturally infiltrate back into the ground. It also prevents contaminants from being naturally filtered out of stormwater flows. As a result, centralized conveyance systems can cause flooding, erosion, and terrestrial and aquatic habitat degradation. Innovative …

Experimental Methods To Characterize Nonlinear Vibration Of Flapping Wing Micro Air Vehicles, Adam P. Tobias

Theses and Dissertations

For urban combat reconnaissance, the flapping wing micro air vehicle concept is ideal because of its low speed and miniature size, which are both conducive to indoor operations. The focus of this research is the development of experimental methods best suited for the vibration testing of the wing structure of a flapping wing micro air vehicle. This study utilizes the similarity of a beam resonating at its first bending mode to actual wing flapping motion. While computational finite element analysis based on linear vibration theory is employed for preliminary beam sizing, an emphasis is placed on experimental measurement of the …

Effects Of Prior Aging At Elevated Temperature In Air And In Argon Environments On Creep Response Of Pmr-15 Neat Resin, Joseph L. Broeckert

Theses and Dissertations

Creep behavior of PMR-15 neat resin, a polyimide thermoset polymer, aged in air or argon gaseous environments at 288 °C for up to 1000 h was evaluated. Creep tests were performed at 288 C at creep stress levels of 20 and 10 MPa. Creep periods of at least 25 h in duration were followed by recovery at zero stress. Weight loss and growth of the oxidation layer were also monitored and correlated with aging time. The aging time in both air and argon environments had a strong influence on the creep and recovery response of PMR-15 neat resin. Samples aged …

Updating Optimal Decisions Using Game Theory And Exploring Risk Behavior Through Response Surface Methodology, Jeremy D. Jordan

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis utilizes game theory within a framework for updating optimal decisions based on new information as it becomes available. Methodology is developed that allows a decision maker to change his perceived optimal policy based on available knowledge of the opponents strategy, where the opponent is a rational decision maker or a random component nature. Utility theory is applied to account for the different risk preferences of the decision makers. Furthermore, response surface methodology is used to explore good risk strategies for the decision maker to approach each situation with. The techniques are applied to a combat scenario, a football …

Lake Roosevelt Water Quality And Hydrodynamic Model Calibration With Fish Bioenergetics, Michael Lee Mckillip

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

An understanding of the effects of hydrodynamics and reservoir operations on the Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake (Lake Roosevelt) aquatic food web allows for better management of the reservoir. A CE-QUAL-W2, v.3.5, hydrodynamic and water quality model (Cole and Wells, 20061) is being applied to the reservoir. The models zooplankton algorithms are expanded and a fish bioenergetics model is incorporated. The Lake Roosevelt model extent is shown in Figure 1. The model includes the lacustrine arms up to full pool on the Sanpoil, Kettle, and Colville Rivers; the Spokane River arm up to Little Falls Dam; and the Columbia River from …

Modified Luciferase, Eileen H. Kim Choi, David R. Shonnard, Irina V. Rybina

Michigan Tech Patents

The invention comprises modified luciferase proteins which are more resistant to inhibition by test chemicals than wild type luciferase. The modified luciferases also contain greater thermostability than wild type luciferase.

Hybrid Recursive Particle Swarm Optimization Learning Algorithm In The Design Of Radial Basis Function Networks, Ching-Yi Chen, Hsuan-Ming Feng, Fun Ye

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

In this paper, an innovative hybrid recursive particle swarm optimization (HRPSO) learning algorithm with normalized fuzzy cmean (NFCM) clustering, particle swarm optimization (PSO) and recursive least-squares (RLS) is proposed to generate radial basis function networks (RBFNs) modeling system with small numbers of descriptive radial basis functions (RBFs) for fast approximating two complex and nonlinear functions. Simulation results demonstrate that the generated NFCM-based learning schemes approach the desired modeling systems within the smaller population sizes.