Abstract: Evapotranspiration (ET) is a major component of the hydrologic cycle and its accurate estimation is essential for hydrological studies. In past, various estimation methods have been developed for different climatological data, and the accuracy of these methods varies with climatic conditions. Reference crop evapotranspiration (ET0) is a key variable in procedures established for estimating evapotranspiration rates of agricultural crops. Values of ET0 are used with crop coefficients for many aspects of irrigation and water resources planning and management. Numerous methods are used for estimating ET0. As per internationally accepted procedures outlined in the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization-s Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 56(FAO-56), use of Penman-Monteith equation is recommended for computing ET0 from ground based climatological observations. In the present study, seven methods have been selected for performance evaluation. User friendly software has been developed using programming language visual basic. The visual basic has ability to create graphical environment using less coding. For given data availability the developed software estimates reference evapotranspiration for any given area and period for which data is available. The accuracy of the software has been checked by the examples given in FAO-56.The developed software is a user friendly tool for estimating ET0 under different data availability and climatic conditions.
Abstract: Heavy metal transfer in soil profiles is a major
environmental concern because even slow transport through the soil
may eventually lead to deterioration of groundwater quality. The use
of sewage sludge and effluents from wastewater treatment plants for
irrigation of agricultural lands is on the rise particularly in peri-urban
area of developing countries. In this study soil samples under sludge
application and wastewater irrigation were studied and soil samples
were collected in the soil profiles from the surface to 100 cm in
depth. For this purpose, three plots were made in a treatment plant in
south of Tehran-Iran. First plot was irrigated just with effluent from
wastewater treatment plant, second plot with simulated heavy metals
concentration equal 50 years irrigation and in third plot sewage
sludge and effluent was used. Trace metals concentration (Cd, Cu)
were determined for soil samples. The results indicate movement of
metals was observed, but the most concentration of metals was found
in topsoil samples. The most of Cadmium concentration was
measured in the topsoil of plot 3, 4.5mg/kg and Maximum cadmium
movement was observed in 0-20 cm. The most concentration of
copper was 27.76mg/kg, and maximum percolation in 0-20 cm.
Metals (Cd, Cu) were measured in leached water. Preferential flow
and metal complexation with soluble organic apparently allow
leaching of heavy metals.
Abstract: Particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique is applied to design the water distribution pipeline network. A simulation-optimization model is formulated with the objective of minimizing cost and is applied to a benchmark water distribution system optimization problem. The benchmark problem taken for the application of PSO technique to optimize the pipe size of the water distribution network is New York City water supply system problem. The results from the analysis infer that PSO is a potential alternative optimization technique when compared to other heuristic techniques for optimal sizing of water distribution systems.
Abstract: The objective of this study is to present the test
results of variable air volume (VAV) air conditioning system
optimized by two objective genetic algorithm (GA). The objective
functions are energy savings and thermal comfort. The optimal set
points for fuzzy logic controller (FLC) are the supply air temperature
(Ts), the supply duct static pressure (Ps), the chilled water
temperature (Tw), and zone temperature (Tz) that is taken as the
problem variables. Supply airflow rate and chilled water flow rate are
considered to be the constraints. The optimal set point values are
obtained from GA process and assigned into fuzzy logic controller
(FLC) in order to conserve energy and maintain thermal comfort in
real time VAV air conditioning system. A VAV air conditioning
system with FLC installed in a software laboratory has been taken for
the purpose of energy analysis. The total energy saving obtained in
VAV GA optimization system with FLC compared with constant air
volume (CAV) system is expected to achieve 31.5%. The optimal
duct static pressure obtained through Genetic fuzzy methodology
attributes to better air distribution by delivering the optimal quantity
of supply air to the conditioned space. This combination enhanced
the advantages of uniform air distribution, thermal comfort and
improved energy savings potential.
Abstract: The African Great Lakes Region refers to the zone
around lakes Victoria, Tanganyika, Albert, Edward, Kivu, and
Malawi. The main source of electricity in this region is hydropower
whose systems are generally characterized by relatively weak,
isolated power schemes, poor maintenance and technical deficiencies
with limited electricity infrastructures. Most of the hydro sources are
rain fed, and as such there is normally a deficiency of water during
the dry seasons and extended droughts. In such calamities fossil fuels
sources, in particular petroleum products and natural gas, are
normally used to rescue the situation but apart from them being nonrenewable,
they also release huge amount of green house gases to our
environment which in turn accelerates the global warming that has at
present reached an amazing stage. Wind power is ample, renewable,
widely distributed, clean, and free energy source that does not
consume or pollute water. Wind generated electricity is one of the
most practical and commercially viable option for grid quality and
utility scale electricity production. However, the main shortcoming
associated with electric wind power generation is fluctuation in its
output both in space and time. Before making a decision to establish
a wind park at a site, the wind speed features there should therefore
be known thoroughly as well as local demand or transmission
capacity. The main objective of this paper is to utilise monthly
average wind speed data collected from one prospective site within
the African Great Lakes Region to demonstrate that the available
wind power there is high enough to generate electricity. The mean
monthly values were calculated from records gathered on hourly
basis for a period of 5 years (2001 to 2005) from a site in Tanzania.
The documentations that were collected at a height of 2 m were
projected to a height of 50 m which is the standard hub height of
wind turbines. The overall monthly average wind speed was found to
be 12.11 m/s whereas June to November was established to be the
windy season as the wind speed during the session is above the
overall monthly wind speed. The available wind power density
corresponding to the overall mean monthly wind speed was evaluated
to be 1072 W/m2, a potential that is worthwhile harvesting for the
purpose of electric generation.
Abstract: The objective of this experiment was to study of water
relations and chlorophyll in different wheat genotypes and their
correlations with grain and biological yields. 21 genotypes of bread
wheat were compared in a field experiment as randomized complete
blocks design with four replications. The results showed that relative
water deficit, relative water loss, excised leaf water retention, cell
membrane stability, chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b, total chlorophyll,
grain yield and biological yield were different significantly among
wheat genotypes, but SPAD-chlorophyll index, relative water content
and chlorophyll florescence were not. Significant correlations were
not observed among above mentioned water relations and
chlorophyll characteristics with grain yield, but there was a positive
and significant correlation between biological yield and grain yield.
Abstract: The periodic mixed convection of a water-copper
nanofluid inside a rectangular cavity with aspect ratio of 3 is
investigated numerically. The temperature of the bottom wall of the
cavity is assumed greater than the temperature of the top lid which
oscillates horizontally with the velocity defined as u = u0 sin (ω t).
The effects of Richardson number, Ri, and volume fraction of
nanoparticles on the flow and thermal behavior of the nanofluid are
investigated. Velocity and temperature profiles, streamlines and
isotherms are presented. It is observed that when Ri < 1, heat transfer
rate is much greater than when Ri > 1. The higher value of Ri
corresponds to a lower value of the amplitude of the oscillation of
Num in the steady periodic state. Moreover, increasing the volume
fraction of the nanoparticles increases the heat transfer rate.
Abstract: The present paper is a case study about exploitation of
Kheir Abad river (Khoozestan, Iran) water resources and the
problems caused by river sediments around the pumping stations.
The weak points and strong points of Boneh Basht pumping station
have been studied by experienced experts, work teams, and
consulting engineers and technical and executive solutions have been
suggested. Therefore, the suggestions of this article are based on the
performed studies and are proposed in order to evaluate the logical
solutions.
Rather complicated processes resulting from the interaction of
water flows and sediments observed at Boneh Basht pumping station
occur at other pumping stations in almost the same way. Therefore,
Boneh Basht pumping station can be selected as a sample (pilot) and
up-to-date theories and experiences can be applied to this station and
the results can be offered to other stations.
Abstract: An experiment was performed in the south of
Morocco in order to evaluate the effect of deficit irrigation by treated
wastewater on chickpea production. We applied six irrigation
treatments on a local variety of chickpea by supplying alternatively
50 or 100% of ETm in a completely randomized design.
We found a highly significant difference between treatments in
terms of biomass production. Drought stress during the vegetative
period showed highest yield with 6.5 t/ha which was more than the
yield obtained for the control (4.9 t/ha). The optimal crop stage in
which deficit irrigation can be applied is the vegetative growth stage,
as the crop has a chance to develop its root system, to be able to
cover the plant needs for water and nutrient supply during the rest of
cycle, and non stress conditions during the flowering and seed filling
stages allow the plant to optimize its photosynthesis and carbon
translocation, therefore increase its productivity.
Abstract: Dehydration behavior gives a hint about thermal properties of materials. It is important for the usage areas and transportation of minerals. Magnesium borates can be used as additive materials in areas such as in the production of superconducting materials, in the composition of detergents, due to the content of boron in the friction-reducing additives in oils and insulating coating compositions due to their good mechanic and thermal properties.
In this study, thermal dehydration behavior of admontite (MgO(B2O3)3.7(H2O)), which is a kind of magnesium borate mineral, is experimented by microwave energy at 360W. Structure of admontite is suitable for the investigation of dehydration behavior by microwave because of its seven moles of crystal water. It is seen that admontite lost its 28.7% of weight at the end of the 120 minutes heating in microwave furnace.
Abstract: In this work, new experimental data for slugging
frequency in inclined gas-liquid flow are reported, and a new
correlation is proposed. Scale experiments were carried out using a
mixture of air and water in a 6 m long pipe. Two different pipe
diameters were used, namely, 38 and 67 mm. The data were taken
with capacitance type sensors at a data acquisition frequency of 200
Hz over an interval of 60 seconds. For the range of flow conditions
studied, the liquid superficial velocity is observed to influence the
frequency strongly. A comparison of the present data with
correlations available in the literature reveals a lack of agreement. A
new correlation for slug frequency has been proposed for the inclined
flow, which represents the main contribution of this work.
Abstract: The international society focuses on the environment
protection and natural energy sources control for the global
cooperation against weather change and sustainable growth. The study
presents the overview of the water shortage status and the necessity of wastewater reuse facility in military facilities and for the possibility of
the introduction, compares the economics by means of cost-benefit
analysis. The military features such as the number of users of military barracks and the water use were surveyed by the design principles by
facility types, the application method of wastewater reuse facility was selected, the feed water, its application and the volume of reuse volume were defined and the expectation was estimated, confirming
the possibility of introducing a wastewater reuse possibility by means of cost-benefit analysis.
Abstract: Computational techniques derived from digital image processing are playing a significant role in the security and digital copyrights of multimedia and visual arts. This technology has the effect within the domain of computers. This research presents discrete M-band wavelet transform (MWT) and cosine transform (DCT) based watermarking algorithm by incorporating the principal component analysis (PCA). The proposed algorithm is expected to achieve higher perceptual transparency. Specifically, the developed watermarking scheme can successfully resist common signal processing, such as geometric distortions, and Gaussian noise. In addition, the proposed algorithm can be parameterized, thus resulting in more security. To meet these requirements, the image is transformed by a combination of MWT & DCT. In order to improve the security further, we randomize the watermark image to create three code books. During the watermark embedding, PCA is applied to the coefficients in approximation sub-band. Finally, first few component bands represent an excellent domain for inserting the watermark.
Abstract: Liners are made to protect the groundwater table from
the infiltration of leachate which normally carries different kinds of
toxic materials from landfills. Although these liners are engineered to
last for long period of time; unfortunately these liners fail; therefore,
toxic materials pass to groundwater. This paper focuses on the
changes of the hydraulic conductivity of a sand-bentonite liner due to
the infiltration of biofuel and ethanol fuel. Series of laboratory tests
were conducted in 20-cm-high PVC columns. Several compositions
of sand-bentonite liners were tested: 95% sand: 5% bentonite; 90%
sand: 10% bentonite; and 100% sand (passed mesh #40). The
columns were subjected to extreme pressures of 40 kPa, and 100 kPa
to evaluate the transport of alternative fuels (biofuel and ethanol
fuel). For comparative studies, similar tests were carried out using
water. Results showed that hydraulic conductivity increased due to
the infiltration of alternative fuels through the liners. Accordingly,
the increase in the hydraulic conductivity showed significant
dependency on the type of liner mixture and the characteristics of the
liquid. The hydraulic conductivity of a liner (subjected to biofuel
infiltration) consisting of 5% bentonite: 95% sand under pressure of
40 kPa and 100 kPa had increased by one fold. In addition, the
hydraulic conductivity of a liner consisting of 10% bentonite: 90%
sand under pressure of 40 kPa and 100 kPa and infiltrated by biofuel
had increased by three folds. On the other hand, the results obtained
by water infiltration under 40 kPa showed lower hydraulic
conductivities of 1.50×10-5 and 1.37×10-9 cm/s for 5% bentonite:
95% sand, and 10% bentonite: 90% sand, respectively. Similarly,
under 100 kPa, the hydraulic conductivities were 2.30×10-5 and
1.90×10-9 cm/s for 5% bentonite: 95% sand, and 10% bentonite: 90%
sand, respectively.
Abstract: ZnO nanostructure were synthesized via microwave
method using zinc acetate as starting material, guanidinium as
structure directing agents, and water as solvent.. This work
investigates the photodegradation of azo dyes using the ZnO Flowerlike
in aqueous solutions. As synthesized ZnO samples were
characterized using X-Ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning
electron microscopy (SEM), and FTIR spectroscopy.In this work
photodecolorization of congored azo dye under UV irradiation by
nano ZnO was studied.
Abstract: A new reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method with fluorescent detector (FLD) was developed and optimized for Norfloxacin determination in human plasma. Mobile phase specifications, extraction method and excitation and emission wavelengths were varied for optimization. HPLC system contained a reverse phase C18 (5 μm, 4.6 mm×150 mm) column with FLD operated at excitation 330 nm and emission 440 nm. The optimized mobile phase consisted of 14% acetonitrile in buffer solution. The aqueous phase was prepared by mixing 2g of citric acid, 2g sodium acetate and 1 ml of triethylamine in 1 L of Milli-Q water was run at a flow rate of 1.2 mL/min. The standard curve was linear for the range tested (0.156–20 μg/mL) and the coefficient of determination was 0.9978. Aceclofenac sodium was used as internal standard. A detection limit of 0.078 μg/mL was achieved. Run time was set at 10 minutes because retention time of norfloxacin was 0.99 min. which shows the rapidness of this method of analysis. The present assay showed good accuracy, precision and sensitivity for Norfloxacin determination in human plasma with a new internal standard and can be applied pharmacokinetic evaluation of Norfloxacin tablets after oral administration in human.
Abstract: The occurrence and removal of trace organic
contaminants in the aquatic environment has become a focus of
environmental concern. For the selective removal of carbamazepine
from loaded waters molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were
synthesized with carbamazepine as template. Parameters varied were
the type of monomer, crosslinker, and porogen, the ratio of starting
materials, and the synthesis temperature. Best results were obtained
with a template to crosslinker ratio of 1:20, toluene as porogen, and
methacrylic acid (MAA) as monomer. MIPs were then capable to
recover carbamazepine by 93% from a 10-5 M landfill leachate
solution containing also caffeine and salicylic acid. By comparison,
carbamazepine recoveries of 75% were achieved using a nonimprinted
polymer (NIP) synthesized under the same conditions, but
without template. In landfill leachate containing solutions
carbamazepine was adsorbed by 93-96% compared with an uptake of
73% by activated carbon. The best solvent for desorption was
acetonitrile, with which the amount of solvent necessary and dilution
with water was tested. Selected MIPs were tested for their reusability
and showed good results for at least five cycles. Adsorption
isotherms were prepared with carbamazepine solutions in the
concentration range of 0.01 M to 5*10-6 M. The heterogeneity index
showed a more homogenous binding site distribution.
Abstract: Ever since industrial revolution began, our ecosystem
has changed. And indeed, the negatives outweigh the positives.
Industrial waste usually released into all kinds of body of water, such
as river or sea. Tempeh waste is one example of waste that carries
many hazardous and unwanted substances that will affect the
surrounding environment. Tempeh is a popular fermented food in
Asia which is rich in nutrients and active substances. Tempeh liquid
waste- in particular- can cause an air pollution, and if penetrates
through the soil, it will contaminates ground-water, making it
unavailable for the water to be consumed. Moreover, bacteria will
thrive within the polluted water, which often responsible for causing
many kinds of diseases. The treatment used for this chemical waste is
biological treatment such as constructed wetland and activated
sludge. These kinds of treatment are able to reduce both physical and
chemical parameters altogether such as temperature, TSS, pH, BOD,
COD, NH3-N, NO3-N, and PO4-P. These treatments are implemented
before the waste is released into the water. The result is a
comparation between constructed wetland and activated sludge,
along with determining which method is better suited to reduce the
physical and chemical subtances of the waste.
Abstract: The ability of agricultural and decorative plants to
absorb and detoxify TNT and RDX has been studied. All tested 8
plants, grown hydroponically, were able to absorb these explosives
from water solutions: Alfalfa > Soybean > Chickpea> Chikling vetch
>Ryegrass > Mung bean> China bean > Maize. Differently from
TNT, RDX did not exhibit negative influence on seed germination
and plant growth. Moreover, some plants, exposed to RDX
containing solution were increased in their biomass by 20%. Study of
the fate of absorbed [1-14ðí]-TNT revealed the label distribution in
low and high-molecular mass compounds, both in roots and above
ground parts of plants, prevailing in the later. Content of 14ðí in lowmolecular
compounds in plant roots are much higher than in above
ground parts. On the contrary, high-molecular compounds are more
intensively labeled in aboveground parts of soybean. Most part (up to
70%) of metabolites of TNT, formed either by enzymatic reduction
or oxidation, is found in high molecular insoluble conjugates.
Activation of enzymes, responsible for reduction, oxidation and
conjugation of TNT, such as nitroreductase, peroxidase,
phenoloxidase and glutathione S-transferase has been demonstrated.
Among these enzymes, only nitroreductase was shown to be induced
in alfalfa, exposed to RDX. The increase in malate dehydrogenase
activities in plants, exposed to both explosives, indicates
intensification of Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle, that generates reduced
equivalents of NAD(P)H, necessary for functioning of the
nitroreductase. The hypothetic scheme of TNT metabolism in plants
is proposed.
Abstract: An overview of the important aspects of managing
and controlling industrial effluent discharges to public sewers namely
sampling, characterization, quantification and legislative controls has
been presented. The findings have been validated by means of a case
study covering three industrial sectors namely, tanning, textile
finishing and food processing industries. Industrial effluents
discharges were found to be best monitored by systematic and
automatic sampling and quantified using water meter readings
corrected for evaporative and consumptive losses. Based on the
treatment processes employed in the public owned treatment works
and the chemical oxygen demand and biochemical oxygen demand
levels obtained, the effluent from all the three industrial sectors
studied were found to lie in the toxic zone. Thus, physico-chemical
treatment of these effluents is required to bring them into the
biodegradable zone. KL values (quoted to base e) were greater than
0.50 day-1 compared to 0.39 day-1 for typical municipality
wastewater.