Digital Commons Network^™

Current Trends In Steroidal 17Α-Ethynylestradiol (Ee2) Removal From The Environment: A Review, Wasiu A. Abibu, Gafar Bamigbade, Amos O. Kolawole, Taiwo Ajayi, Abdul W. Sakariyau

Applied Environmental Research

Emerging contaminants have posed major environmental and health challenges to human and aquatic lives. They include pharmaceuticals, endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), persistent environmental pollutants and many more. EE2 is an example of an endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) increasingly gaining acceptance and used to augment the deficiencies of other reproductive hormones. EE2 constitutes environmental nuisance via discharge into aquatic bodies, thus, threatening aquatic lives and resulting in health defects in human. It is worthy of note that previous researchers have channeled their studies to identifying ways of expelling EE2 from the environment. However, they remain persistent in the environment. The current …

Exploring Utopian Concepts In The Contemporary Water Architecture, Aya Chehab, Hiba Mohsen

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

Water has since the beginning of civilizations been known to be the vital component of mankind’s existence. The inseparable relation between architecture and water is well-established from the beginning of ages where humans first settlements arose; that inevitably led to the creation of long-lasting shelters. Despite their strong bond, the architectural relationship with water has been through an unfortunate downfall throughout the years. Some contemporary architects admire to achieve an innovative approach in their projects, but are still lacking the risk of incorporating water as a key component for it; where it can act as a symbol of grandeur, creating …

Applications Of Biomimicry In Construction And Architecture: A Bibliometric Analysis, Mugdha Praveen Kshirsagar Mrs, Sanjay Kantrao Kulkarni Dr, Ankush Kumar Meena Mr, Danby Caetano D’Costa Mr, Sushant Sunil Bhavsar Mr

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Biomimicry can be considered to be a way of connecting the environment created by man to the natural world. Biomimicry is a science that, as a model, a measure and a tutor, looks to nature. Via site work, construction and everyday operations, biomimicry can be used to enhance the way the built environment is constructed. The main objective of this paper is to perform a bibliometric study of biomimicry-related literature in order to discover the growth of biomimicry as an architectural method in recent years. The time frame considered for this survey is between 1990 and 2020. The findings, however, …

Comparing The Environmental Impacts Of Using Mass Timber And Structural Steel, Khang Hoang Nguyen, Steelee Knight Morgan

Construction Management

Although mass timber has seen a gradual rise in demand in the past, there has been a lack of extensive research on the environmental impacts of using mass timber as a primary structural framing material. This paper compares structural steel, and mass timber’s total embodied carbon emissions. Accurate estimates were made using plans and specs for different projects retrieved from semi-structured interviews. The estimates were input through the EC3 Calculator to provide extensive total carbon emissions measurements between each construction material. Using structural steel framing increased the project’s overall environmental impact by roughly 84% compared to using mass timber. The …

Removal Of Pharmaceutical Residues From Water And Wastewater Using Dielectric Barrier Discharge Methods—A Review, Emile S. Massima Mouele, Jimoh O. Tijani, Kassim O. Badmus, Omoniyi Pereao, Omotola Babajide, Cheng Zhang, Tao Shao, Eduard Sosnin, Victor Tarasenko, Ojo O. Fatoba, Katri Laatikainen, Leslie F. Petrik

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Persistent pharmaceutical pollutants (PPPs) have been identified as potential endocrine disruptors that mimic growth hormones when consumed at nanogram per liter to microgram per liter concentrations. Their occurrence in potable water remains a great threat to human health. Different conventional technologies developed for their removal from wastewater have failed to achieve complete mineralization. Advanced oxidation technologies such as dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs) based on free radical mechanisms have been identified to completely decompose PPPs. Due to the existence of pharmaceuticals as mixtures in wastewater and the recalcitrance of their degradation intermediate by-products, no single advanced oxidation technology has been able …

Assessment Of Heavy Metal Concentration In Soils Around Geita The Gold Mine, Tanzania, Mariam G. Mgendi, Mkabwa L. K Manoko, W.J.S. Mwegoha, C. Southway C. Southway

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Health issues related to gold mining cannot be underestimated. Gold mining produce acid mine drainage (AMD), which in turn releases heavy metals into the nearby environment, hence causing environmental pollution. Heavy metals are naturally very toxic, thus pose a great health concern especially when their concentration exceeds the recommended permissible limits. In this study, concentrations of five heavy metals—including Pb, Ni, Cr, Cu and Zn—were assessed in the soil around Geita Gold Mine (GGM). A total of 17 sampling sites were established from which the soil samples were collected at 0-15cm and 15-30cm soil depth. The concentration of both total …

Exposing Nuclear Power Plants, Sophia Austin

Copley Library Undergraduate Research Awards

This paper will begin by outlining the eco-justice topic of nuclear power and its resulting nuclear waste, and then move on to examining and making claims about the justice (distributive, procedural, and recognition-based), evidence, and process behind the development and decommissioning of these plants. Through this, we will discover historical and present ties to racism - especially as we explore the relationship between nuclear power and the white racial frame, resulting in the objectification, oppression, and suppression of the voices of Indigenous communities and people of color throughout history and into the present moment. After addressing and reflecting on many …

A Methodology For Assessing And Monitoring Risk In The Industrial Wastewater Sector, Anna Trubetskaya, William Horan, Paul Conheady, Ken Stockil, Shane Merritt, Sean Moore

Publications

The concept of sustainable risk assessment in industrial wastewater treatment is vital to determine the causes and consequences of plant failure. The potential wastewater-related risks that could hamper the operation of the entire manufacturing facility are currently inadequately defined and under researched. This work proposes a framework that includes the comparison of literature and experimental data to quantify the impact of the significant process parameters on the critical process outputs. From the business perspective, managing and minimising risks will be possible when the number of impact parameters is low and the relationships between different parameters are clearly understood. The results …

Pathways To Coastal Resiliency: The Adaptive Gradients Framework, Elisabeth M. Hamin, Pamela K. Judge

Engineering, Computing & Construction Management Faculty Publications

Current and future climate-related coastal impacts such as catastrophic and repetitive flooding, hurricane intensity, and sea level rise necessitate a new approach to developing and managing coastal infrastructure. Traditional “hard” or “grey” engineering solutions are proving both expensive and inflexible in the face of a rapidly changing coastal environment. Hybrid solutions that incorporate natural, nature-based, structural, and non-structural features may better achieve a broad set of goals such as ecological enhancement, long-term adaptation, and social benefits, but broad consideration and uptake of these approaches has been slow. One barrier to the widespread implementation of hybrid solutions is the lack of …

Impact Of Preferential Flow, Source Water Connectivity, And Agricultural Management Practices On Sediment And Particulate Phosphorus Dynamics In Midwestern Tile-Drained Landscapes, Saeid Nazari

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Tile drainage is recognized as a significant transporter of sediment and particulate phosphorus (PP) in the Midwestern U.S., leading to proliferation of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). Numerous studies have focused on Dissolved Reactive Phosphorus (DRP) and Nitrogen (N) flux dynamics in tile-drained landscapes; however, the impact of preferential flow and agricultural management practices on fate and transport of sediment and PP has remained poorly understood. The overarching objective of this study was to improve understanding of sediment P delivery in tile-drained landscapes. This dissertation focuses on four studies. In the first study, forms and flow pathway dynamics of total phosphorus …

Comparison Of Direct-Reading And Gravimetric Methods Of Particle Measurement In A Science Building, Silpakorn University, Aungsiri Tipayarom, Prayad Sangngam, Siraphop Pinitkarn

Applied Environmental Research

This study aimed to develop relationships between particulate matter (PM) concentrations obtained from a direct-reading instrument to those from a gravimetric method. TSI DustTrak II Aerosol Monitors (Model 8530), a direct-reading instrument for PM10 and PM2.5 measurement, together with personal air pumps connected to a Sensidyne cyclone and a SKC Personal Environmental Monitor (PEM) for gravimetric PM10 and PM2.5 measurements respectively were deployed in the Faculty of Science building, Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand. Comparison of the results from each instrument indicated that PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations obtained from the TSI DustTrak were higher. The linear relationship from ordinary least …

Ozone Formation Potential Of Ambient Volatile Organic Compounds At Roadside In Bangkok, Thailand, Narita Fakkaew, Surat Bualert, Thunyapat Thongyen, Thitima Rungratanaubon

Applied Environmental Research

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) play an important role in atmospheric chemistry due to their high reactivity—reacting photochemically with oxides of nitrogen (NOx) in the presence of solar radiation forming tropospheric ozone (O3). Each VOC species have different effects on ozone formation according to the rates and pathways of their reactions. The objective of this study aims to examine ozone formation from the estimation of ozone formation potential (OFP). The observation of 29 VOCs species was carried out in the urban area near the roads of Bangkok, Thailand. Measurements were carried out during the dry season, from 16th February to 15th …

Critical Factors And Their Correlation Affecting Green Industry Performance: Evidences From Small And Medium Enterprises, Phurita Noranarttakun, Chanathip Pharino

Applied Environmental Research

Large companies have achieved excellent progress toward green production while small and medium enterprises (SMEs) showed limited progress. This research aims to investigate key factors affect different stages of enhancing green industry implementation particularly in SMEs. This study conducted a systematic analysis to offer recommendations to unlock the inhibitors of the green industry. The electronic products and electrical equipment manufacturing industry in Thailand was chosen as a case study. Questionnaire is the main approach to collect primary data from SMEs. The structural equation model is developed to examine correlation and the degree of influencing factors. The model indicated that the …

Environmental Degradation-Education Nexus In Malaysia, Wong Sing Yun

Applied Environmental Research

This study aims to examine the role of education on CO2 emissions in Malaysia from 1974 to 2014. The unit root tests indicated that the variables were integrated in the same order. As such, the Johansen Co-integration Approach can be employed in this empirical analysis to analyze the impacts of the selected variables. The long-run estimation revealed that economic growth (GDP) and energy consumption (ENERGY) has a negative effect on CO2 emissions. Meanwhile, secondary school education (EDU) demonstrated a significant positive relationship with environmental degradation in the long-run. This can be inferred that secondary school education has a negative effect …

Assessment Of Hydrothermal Parameters On Alkaline Activation Of Fly Ashes Using A Central Composite Design, Ivan Supelano García, César Armando Ortíz Otálora, Carlos Arturo Parra Vargas, Julieth Alexandr Mejía Gómez

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

Coal fly ash (CFA) is a powder generated during combustion of coal; its improper disposal constitutes an environmental issue. To minimize this problem, one of the uses of CFA is as feedstock for production of zeolite. Different studies have shown that zeolites may be easily obtained from CFA by relatively cheap and fast conversion processes. Most of these studies have been focused on the study of the zeolite synthesis using classical methods through changing one factor per time and fixing the other factors, where it illustrates the impact of each variable individually via a huge number of experiments, however it …

Optimal Multi-Reservoir System Operations Under Inflow Scenarios In Nam Ngum River Basin, Lao Pdr, Bounhome Kimmany

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The Nam Ngum River is one of the main rivers in Lao PDR. Many hydropower projects are currently operated, under construction, and in the planning stage within the Nam Ngum River Basin (NNRB). These hydropower projects are managed by different organizations which could lead to conflict in operation and hinder the achievement of national developments. The main objective of this research is therefore to develop an optimization model for maximizing hydropower production in the NNRB through optimal reservoir operation under the impact of climate change. The potential consequence of maximizing hydropower production that could lead to flooding was also considered …

Strategies For Reducing Greenhouse Gases From Liquid Dairy Manure, Vera Sokolov

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Livestock production, including the storage, handling, and spreading of manure, are among the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector. Liquid dairy manure storages are hot spots of methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O) and ammonia (NH₃). Both CH₄ and N₂O are greenhouse gases (GHG) which contribute to global warming, while NH₃ is an indirect source of N₂O and a risk to human health. Reducing emissions from manure storages is important not only for protection of environment and humans, but also for conserving the nutrients in …

Cell And Biofilm Adhesion Strength Quantified By The Laser Spallation Technique Yields A Novel Biocompatibility Metric, The Adhesion Index, James Boyd

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Implant associated infections are one of the leading causes of hospital acquired infections in the United States. Medical orthopedic implant devices are designed to improve adhesion of relevant cells within our body. In the case of orthopedic implants, osteoblast cells will adhere and allow for proper integration with the body’s bones. However, virulent bacteria will also adhere onto medical implants and proliferate into biofilms. Bacterial biofilms become extremely difficult to eradicate clinically as antibiotics are not as effective, resulting in severe infections or loss of implant. The aim of this research is to quantify the adhesion strength differential between relevant …

Americans Support For Renewable Energy Is Disconnected From Their Understanding Of Powerline Infrastructure As A Mechanism To Mitigate Climate Change, Rebecca J. Romsdahl, Christopher J. Felege, Joshua E. Hunter, Cheryl Hunter, Susan N. Ellis-Felege

Earth System Science and Policy Faculty Publications

As nations are transitioning to renewable energy sources, they will need to expand and upgrade their energy infrastructure, including high-voltage power lines (HVPL). We have conducted the first nation-wide survey in the last thirty years to assess public attitudes toward HVPL in the USA. The study evaluates perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes toward building new transmission lines, as these relate to renewable energy, place attachment, and environmental impacts. Our results show that Americans do not recognize how new HVPL could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions; instead, respondents favor moving from centralized energy (large power stations and HVPL) to decentralized energy (local …

Analyzing And Measuring Petrophysical Properties Of Marcellus Shale, Yahia Mustafa Yassin Mustafa

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Unconventional oil and natural gas play a key role in our nation's future. The U.S. has vast reserves of such resources that are commercially viable as a result of advances in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technology. These technologies enable greater access to oil and natural gas in shale formations. Responsible development of America's shale gas resources offers important economic, energy security, and environmental benefits. Hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling apply the latest technologies and make it commercially viable to recover shale gas and oil.

In order to estimate the original gas-in-place, predict the production rates, and optimize the hydraulic …

The Design, Development And Validation Of A Persuasive Content Generator, Sam Khataei, Michael J. Hine, Ali Arya

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

This paper addresses the automatic generation of persuasive content to influence users’ attitude and behaviour. Our research extends current approaches by leveraging individuals’ social media profiles and activity to personalize the persuasive content. Unlike most other implemented persuasive technology, our system is generic and can be adapted to any domain where collections of electronic text are available. Using the Yale Attitude Change approach, we describe: the multi-layered Pyramid of Individualization model; the design, development, and validation of integrated software that can generate individualized persuasive content based on a user’s social media profile and activity. Results indicate the proposed system can …

A Fuzzy Expert System For Predicting The Mortality Of Covid'19, Monika Mangla, Nonita Sharma, Poonam Mittal

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a widespread impact on health and economy across the globe. It is leading to a huge number of deaths per day. Few researchers have been attracted to analyzing the mortality rate of COVID-19 from various perspectives. During the research, it has become evident that these fatalities are not only caused by COVID19, but they are also affected by some other factors. The authors of this paper aim to encompass three important types of factors viz. risk factors, clinical factors, and miscellaneous factors that influence the mortality of COVID-19. This manuscript presents a rule-based model under …

Developing An Institutional Arrangement For A Whole-Of-Government And Whole-Of-Community Approach To Regional Adaptation To Sea Level Rise: The Hampton Roads Pilot Project, Juita-Elena (Wie) Yusuf, J. Gail Nicula, Burton St. John Iii, Meagan M. Jordan, Michelle Covi, Carol Considine, Marina Saitgalina, Joshua Behr

School of Public Service Faculty Publications

Adaptation to sea level rise (SLR) requires coordination among local, state, and federal entities and collaboration across governments, nonprofits, businesses, and residents. This coordination and collaboration are reflected in institutional arrangements associated with a whole-of-government and whole-of-community approach to regional adaptation. This study analyzes the development of an interlocal agreement (ILA), the Hampton Roads Sea Level Rise Preparedness and Resilience Intergovernmental Planning Pilot Project (the Pilot Project), as an example of such an arrangement. This study assesses how factors throughout three phases of ILA development (initiation, implementation, and execution) influence outcomes and effectiveness. Drawing upon participant observation, document analysis, survey …

A Transdisciplinary Analysis Of Just Transition Pathways To 100% Renewable Electricity, Adewale Aremu Adesanya

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The transition to using clean, affordable, and reliable electrical energy is critical for enhancing human opportunities and capabilities. In the United States, many states and localities are engaging in this transition despite the lack of ambitious federal policy support. This research builds on the theoretical framework of the multilevel perspective (MLP) of sociotechnical transitions as well as the concept of energy justice to investigate potential pathways to 100 percent renewable energy (RE) for electricity provision in the U.S. This research seeks to answer the question: what are the technical, policy, and perceptual pathways, barriers, and opportunities for just transition to …

Multi-Dimensional Modeling For Environmental Impact Assessment At Intersections Of The Food-Energy-Water Nexus, Jessica Daignault

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This dissertation uses multi-dimensional modeling for environmental impact assessment at intersections of the Food-Energy-Water (FEW) Nexus, including life cycle assessment (LCA) modeling for quantification of environmental impacts due to household FEW consumption, a linear regression framework for quantification of water-use impacts of marginal electricity generation, and a multi-objective optimization model to assess monetization of water withdrawals for electricity generation and impacts to water stress due to electricity dispatch schemes. Chapter 2 of this dissertation summarizes the development of an LCA model that quantifies the direct and indirect environmental impacts of household FEW consumption. The model is executed through a novel …

Spatial-Temporal Patterns Of Modis Active Fire/Hotspots In Chiang Rai, Upper Northern Thailand And The Greater Mekong Subregion Countries During 2003-2015, Chidsanuphong Chart-Asa

Applied Environmental Research

For the past decade, smoke-haze pollution from forest fires and open burning has been a yearly recurring problem over Chiang Rai and other provinces in Upper Northern Thailand, along with other countries in the Greater Mekong Sub-region. Remote-sensing active fire/ hotspot data are currently used for monitoring the forest fires and open burning in the sub-region. This study aimed to extend the current monitoring work by performing spatial and temporal analysis to examine the patterns, either globally or locally, of MODIS active fires/hotspots during the critical smoke-haze pollution periods from January to April in 2003-2015. Fire radiative power was used …

Centuries Of Heat Waves Over India During 20th And 21st Century, Naveena Neelam, Gubbala C. Satyanerayana, Kotla S. Rao, Nandivada Umakantha, Dharma Raju

Applied Environmental Research

An assessment of temperature extremes is made for the Indian subcontinent to identify the changes since 1951 to 2015, and for the future climate periods till 2100 for all the 21 CMIP5 (Coupled Model intercomparision Project phase 5) models and the representative concentration pathways RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 were examined for the period from 1 March to 31 May to characterize the heat waves in future climates and mean maximum and mean minimum bias were evaluated for the Indian subcontinent. Later two highest recorded temperature regions were chosen Northwest & Central India (NW&CIN) and only central India (CIN) box and the …

Source Contribution Of 1,3 Butadiene In The Vicinity Of Petrochemical Industrial Area, Nuttakit Sukjit, Sarawut Thepanondh, Suphaphat Kwonpongsagoon, Wanida ๋Jinsart, Lalidaporn Punya, Pattaranan Hanma

Applied Environmental Research

Emissions and ambient concentrations of 1,3 butadiene released from the synthetic rubber industries in the largest petroleum and petrochemical complex in Thailand were evaluated in this study. The industrial emissions in this analysis were those emitted from process fugitive, combustion stack, flare, and wastewater treatment facility. It was found that wastewater treatment units were the largest emission source among other potential sources. The contribution of emission from wastewater treatment plants were about 92% of total 1,3 butadiene emission. The extent and magnitude of 1,3 butadiene in ambient air were further evaluated through the simulation of AERMOD dispersion model using these …

Land Cover Classification Based On Uav Photogrammetry And Deep Learning For Supporting Mine Reclamation: A Case Study Of Mae Moh Mine In Lampang Province, Thailand, Tejendra K. Yadav, Polpreecha Chidburee, Nattapon Mahavik

Applied Environmental Research

Detailed, accurate, and frequent mapping of land cover are the prerequisite regarding areas of reclaimed mines and the development of sustainable project-level for goals. Mine reclamation is essential as the extractive organizations are bounded by-laws that have been established by stakeholders to ensure that the mined areas are properly restored. As databases at the mines area become outdated, an automated process of upgrading is needed. Currently, there are only few studies regarding mine reclamation which has less potential of land cover classification using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry with Deep learning (DL). This paper aims to employ the classification of …

Quantifying Avoidable Food Waste And Identifying Its Underlying Causes: A Case Study Of A University Dormitory In Thailand, Shimpei Iwasaki, Suphat Prasopsin, Thamarat Phutthai

Applied Environmental Research

To develop well-planned and effective policies and programs for reducing avoidable food waste, it is important to quantify the actual food waste level in particular settings and assess relationships among consumers’ awareness, attitudes, and behaviors. Recognizing these considerations, this paper measured avoidable food waste generated by university students living in dormitory buildings and identified its underlying causes in the case of Kanchanaburi campus, Mahidol University, Thailand. The study applied a food waste composition survey 18 times between January and May 2019 while administering questionnaires in October 2019 to the dormitory students. Based on these measures, the study identified 1,417 instances …