Use of Real-Time Dust Monitoring and Surface Condition to Evaluate Success of Unpaved Road Treatments

2018 ◽  
Vol 2672 (52) ◽  
pp. 195-204
Author(s):  
Bethany K. Kunz ◽  
Nicholas S. Green ◽  
Janice L. Albers ◽  
Mark L. Wildhaber ◽  
Edward E. Little
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Untreated Control ◽  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Surface Condition ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Road Maintenance ◽  
Dust Production ◽  
Unpaved Roads ◽  
Chemical Treatments

Fugitive dust from unpaved roads creates human health hazards, degrades road surfaces, and increases the cost of road maintenance. As a result, many different chemical treatments are applied to unpaved roads in an attempt to control dust and stabilize the wearing course. However, investigations of the effectiveness of these treatments have often been poorly planned or executed. The objective of this study was to use a combination of real-time dust monitoring and objective road condition evaluations to assess the success of two chemical treatments for a period of 19 months post-application, to provide quantitative information in support of road management decisions. Dust production from road sections treated with calcium chloride-based durablend-C™ or the synthetic fluid EnviroKleen® was monitored on five dates using a vehicle-mounted particulate matter meter. Both products reduced dust by up to 99% relative to an untreated control section during the monitoring period, and quantitative data from the meter were consistent with qualitative observations of dust conditions. Linear models of dust production indicated that road treatment and humidity explained 69% of the variation in dust over time. Road sections treated with either product developed less rutting and fewer potholes than the untreated control. Overall, the combination of real-time dust monitoring and surface condition evaluation was an effective approach for generating quantitative data on endpoints of interest to road managers.

scholarly journals Groundwater Monitoring Systems to Understand Sea Water Intrusion Dynamics in the Mediterranean: The Neretva Valley and the Southern Venice Coastal Aquifers Case Studies

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 561
Author(s):  
Ivan Lovrinović ◽  
Alessandro Bergamasco ◽  
Veljko Srzić ◽  
Chiara Cavallina ◽  
Danko Holjević ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Coastal Aquifers ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Water Dynamics ◽  
Monitoring Systems ◽  
Driving Mechanism ◽  
Sea Water Intrusion ◽  
Water Intrusion ◽  
Aquifer Systems

Sea water intrusion (SWI) has been widely recognized as a global problem, significantly influencing coastal aquifers, mostly through reduced water quality and agricultural production indicators. In this paper, we present the outcomes of the implementation of two independent real-time monitoring systems, planned and installed to get insights on groundwater dynamics within the adjacent coastal aquifer systems, one located in the Neretva Valley, southeastern Croatia, the other located south of the Venice lagoon, northeastern Italy. Both systems are presented with technical details and the capacity to observe, store, and transmit (Neretva site) observed values in real-time. Analysis of time series reveals the significant influence of the sea level oscillations onto the observed groundwater electrical conductivity (EC) and piezometric head values, while precipitation rate is detected as a driving mechanism for groundwater parameters in shallow geological units. The installed monitoring systems are shown to be of great importance to provide qualitative and quantitative information on the processes influencing groundwater and surface water dynamics within two coastal systems.

A geostatistical approach to winter road surface condition estimation using mobile RWIS data

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 511-521
Author(s):  
Lian Gu ◽  
Tae J. Kwon ◽  
Tony Z. Qiu
Keyword(s):  
Robust Regression ◽  
Surface Condition ◽  
Road Surface ◽  
Road Maintenance ◽  
Surface Conditions ◽  
Modelling Framework ◽  
Geostatistical Approach ◽  
Winter Road ◽  
Systematic Framework

In winter, it is critical for cold regions to have a full understanding of the spatial variation of road surface conditions such that hot spots (e.g., black ice) can be identified for an effective mobilization of winter road maintenance operations. Acknowledging the limitations in present study, this paper proposes a systematic framework to estimate road surface temperature (RST) via the geographic information system (GIS). The proposed method uses a robust regression kriging method to take account for various geographical factors that may affect the variation of RST. A case study of highway segments in Alberta, Canada is used to demonstrate the feasibility and applicability of the method proposed herein. The findings of this study suggest that the geostatistical modelling framework proposed in this paper can accurately estimate RST with help of various covariates included in the model and further promote the possibility of continuous monitoring and visualization of road surface conditions.

scholarly journals Prolonging the vase life of cut Carnation 'GIOKO' by using different chemicals

2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Terék ◽  
F. A. S. Hassan ◽  
E. Jámbor-Benczúr ◽  
Á. Máthé
Keyword(s):  
Untreated Control ◽  
Dianthus Caryophyllus ◽  
Vase Life ◽  
Distilled Water ◽  
Cut Flowers ◽  
Chemical Treatments ◽  
All Solutions ◽  
Separate Treatment ◽  
Flower Diameter ◽  
Positive Effect

Cut flowers of Dianthus caryophyllus L. cv. GIOKO were treated with different concentrations of sucrose and in combination with 1­methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) to compare the effect of these treatments with floral preservative (`Spring') on the longevity of flowers. Distilled water was used for preparing all solutions. The control flowers were held in distilled water. Clorox at 2 mL- I was added to all treatments containing sucrose and it was also applied as a separate treatment. The vase life of cut carnations was significantly prolonged due to the use of chemical treatments, as compared to the untreated control. The longest vase life (18.33 days) was obtained by using 1-MCP 0.5 g m-3 for 6 h treatment. All concentrations of sucrose had a positive effect on flower diameter. The best treatment in this respect was 1 -MCP with 30 gL-I sucrose. 1-MCP treatment significantly increased the chlorophyll content, as compared to the control or the "Spring" treatment. The highest values in this respect were obtained by 1 -MCP treatment alone or with the lowest level of sucrose. The effect of these treatments on the pH of solutions is discussed.

Development of Real-Time Mine Road Maintenance Management System Using Haul Truck and Road Vibration Signature Analysis

2003 ◽  
Vol 1819 (1) ◽  
pp. 305-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Thompson ◽  
Alex Visser ◽  
Rusty Miller ◽  
Ted Lowe
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Maintenance Management ◽  
Road User ◽  
Signature Analysis ◽  
Road Maintenance ◽  
Real Time System ◽  
Traffic Volumes ◽  
Vibration Signature ◽  
Haul Road

The unpaved road network of a surface mine is extensive, comprising numerous roads of varying construction and material qualities with highly variable traffic volumes. Existing haul road maintenance management systems (MMSs) work well for predictable traffic volumes, but for complex mine road networks, the MMS becomes onerous and results in suboptimal road maintenance strategies, with the attendant increase in total road-user costs and reduction in service. A real-time MMS was thus sought to overcome the deficiencies of existing systems for mine roads. Because most large mines operate trucks with onboard diagnostic data collation, linked through a centralized communication and Global Positioning System backbone, it was proposed that road condition could be monitored on a real-time basis through onboard vibration signature analysis. A real-time mine haul road MMS was developed. Mine road maintenance practices were reviewed. The real-time system architecture was devised, and a field trial was conducted of onboard vibration signature assessment. Trial results were evaluated in the light of road defect signature recognition, analysis, signature repeatability, and system limitations. This approach is applicable to other situations, such as a network of district roads, subject to an analysis of economic feasibility. The conclusion is reached that modern technology has the potential to apply maintenance as and where needed, with possible reductions in authority cost and an improvement in service provided to road users.

128 THE ROLE OF ENDOTHELINS IN REGULATING BOVINE GRANULOSA CELLS STEROIDOGENESIS

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 194 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. F. Schütz ◽  
J. E. Ervin ◽  
L. Zhang ◽  
C. Robinson ◽  
M. Totty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Real Time Pcr ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Rna Extraction ◽  
Insulin Like Growth Factor ◽  
Steroid Production ◽  
Oestradiol Production

Endothelins are a group of vasoactive 21 amino acid peptides reported to play roles in steroidogenesis, folliculogenesis, and ovulation (Bridges et al. 2012 Life Sci. 91, 501–506). Nevertheless, the role of endothelins in regulating steroidogenesis in the bovine species requires further investigation. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of endothelin 1 (ET-1) and endothelin 2 (ET-2) on bovine granulosa cell (GC) steroidogenesis. Bovine ovaries were obtained from a local abattoir. Follicular fluid was aspirated from small (1–5 mm) follicles and GC were isolated and exposed to various treatments (ET-1, ET-2, or ET-1 plus ET-2 with FSH and with or without insulin-like growth factor-1). In replicated experiments, culture medium was removed and analysed for steroid production via radioimmunoassay. Granulosa cells were either harvested with trypsin and counted using a Coulter Counter or collected with Trizol for RNA extraction and quantification via real-time PCR (18S rRNA was used as a housekeeping gene). Steroid production was expressed as nanograms (in the case of progesterone) and picograms (in the case of oestradiol) per 105 cells per 24 h. Relative quantity of target gene mRNA was expressed as 2–ΔΔCt using the relative comparative threshold cycle (Ct) method. Data were analysed via ANOVA and the general linear models (GLM) procedure of SAS for Windows (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). If a significant main effect was identified, differences among means were determined by Fisher’s protected least significant differences test. The values were reported as least squares means ± standard error of the mean. In the presence of insulin-like growth factor-1, ET-1 significantly inhibited oestradiol production at 300 ng mL–1 (100.30 ± 11.05; P < 0.05), but not at 30 ng mL–1 (114.47 ± 11.05; P > 0.05) in comparison to the control (141.21 ± 11.05), whereas no differences were observed for progesterone production at 300 ng mL–1 (60.11 ± 7.11; P > 0.05) or at 30 ng mL–1 (64.02 ± 7.11; P > 0.05) in comparison to control (76.75 ± 7.11). ET-2 also significantly inhibited oestradiol production at 300 ng mL–1 (91.08 ± 11.87; P < 0.01), but not at 30 ng mL–1 (112.77 ± 11.87; P > 0.05) in comparison to the control in the presence of insulin-like growth factor-1. No significant effect of ET-1 and ET-2 was observed on steroidogenesis of granulosa cells cultured without insulin-like growth factor-1. Consistent with steroids production data, real-time PCR results indicated that, in the presence of IGF-1, ET-1 (5.66 ± 1.05) and ET-2 (5.65 ± 1.05) inhibited (P < 0.05) aromatase gene expression compared to controls (11.33 + 1.05), and ET-1 plus ET-2 (2.42 ± 1.05) reduced (P < 0.05) expression below that observed with either alone. No effect of ET-1 (4.38 ± 0.95; P > 0.05), ET-2 (5.94 ± 0.95; P > 0.05), or ET-1 plus ET-2 (4.57 ± 0.95; P > 0.05) was observed for side-chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A1) in comparison to controls (4.4 ± 1.07). Altogether, these results indicate that endothelins are involved in the regulation of steroidogenesis of bovine GC.

Natural Systems Approach to Preventing Environmental Harm from Unpaved Roads

2003 ◽  
Vol 1819 (1) ◽  
pp. 210-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Woodrow J. Colbert
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Pollution Prevention ◽  
The United States ◽  
Environmental Harm ◽  
Road Maintenance ◽  
Unpaved Roads ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Funding Program ◽  
Local Officials

In the United States, non-point-source pollution has been documented at more than 11,000 individual sites along the state of Pennsylvania’s 20,000 mi of unpaved roads. This substantiates the fact that traditional road maintenance practices are not addressing dust and sediment pollution. A Dirt and Gravel Road Pollution Prevention Program instigated by concerned citizens, initiated by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and implemented by local county conservation districts has begun implementing an education and funding program that encourages recognition and use of the relentless forces of nature to reduce pollution through enlightened road maintenance objectives and decisions. Referred to as the natural systems approach, this work has application when maintenance decisions are made by nonengineer generalists who can be quickly trained to recognize the indicators of stable vegetation and drainage patterns associated with good and bad road performance. Replicating the stable environments associated with good roads is then a local initiative to treat the problem and not the symptom. Solutions can be accomplished in stages with whatever resources local officials have available. Examples of a few ramifications of traditional decision making together with alternative solutions to them were developed to precipitate discussion. A call has been made to assemble an interdisciplinary task force to further efforts, such as AASHTO’s 2001 Guidelines for Geometric Design of Very Low-Volume Local Roads (ADT < 400), that will relieve pressure on local officials to adhere to traditional decision making, which is based on paved highvolume roads.

scholarly journals Quantification of Campylobacter spp. in Chicken Rinse Samples by Using Flotation prior to Real-Time PCR

2005 ◽  
Vol 71 (10) ◽  
pp. 5759-5764 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petra Wolffs ◽  
Börje Norling ◽  
Jeffrey Hoorfar ◽  
Mansel Griffiths ◽  
Peter Rådström
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Real Time Pcr ◽  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Buoyant Density ◽  
Tetrazolium Chloride ◽  
Viable Cells ◽  
Flotation Treatment ◽  
Flotation Method ◽  
Cell Concentrations ◽  
Campylobacter Spp

ABSTRACT Real-time PCR is fast, sensitive, specific, and can deliver quantitative data; however, two disadvantages are that this technology is sensitive to inhibition by food and that it does not distinguish between DNA originating from viable, viable nonculturable (VNC), and dead cells. For this reason, real-time PCR has been combined with a novel discontinuous buoyant density gradient method, called flotation, in order to allow detection of only viable and VNC cells of thermotolerant campylobacters in chicken rinse samples. Studying the buoyant densities of different Campylobacter spp. showed that densities changed at different time points during growth; however, all varied between 1.065 and 1.109 g/ml. These data were then used to develop a flotation assay. Results showed that after flotation and real-time PCR, cell concentrations as low as 8.6 × 102 CFU/ml could be detected without culture enrichment and amounts as low as 2.6 × 103 CFU/ml could be quantified. Furthermore, subjecting viable cells and dead cells to flotation showed that viable cells were recovered after flotation treatment but that dead cells and/or their DNA was not detected. Also, when samples containing VNC cells mixed with dead cells were treated with flotation after storage at 4 or 20°C for 21 days, a similar percentage resembling the VNC cell fraction was detected using real-time PCR and 5-cyano-2,3-ditolyl tetrazolium chloride-4′,6′-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining (20% ± 9% and 23% ± 4%, respectively, at 4°C; 11% ± 4% and 10% ± 2%, respectively, at 20°C). This indicated that viable and VNC Campylobacter cells could be positively selected and quantified using the flotation method.

scholarly journals Field Evaluation of Chemotherapy on HLB-Affected Citrus Trees With Emphasis on Fruit Yield and Quality

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muqing Zhang ◽  
Palaniyandi Karuppaiya ◽  
Desen Zheng ◽  
Xiuxiu Sun ◽  
Jinhe Bai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Untreated Control ◽  
The United States ◽  
Fruit Yield ◽  
Quality Analysis ◽  
Nutrient Analysis ◽  
Chemical Treatments ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Citrus Trees

Huanglongbing (HLB) is one of the most devastating diseases of citrus, which is associated with Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Las) in the United States. To date, no effective antimicrobial compound is commercially available to control the disease. In this study, we investigated the effects of different antimicrobial chemicals with suitable surfactants on HLB-affected matured citrus trees with emphasis on the fruit yield and quality. Each treatment was applied three times in a 2-week interval during the spring flush period, one time in summer and three times during the autumn flushing period. We extensively examined different parameters such as pathogenic index, disease index, tree canopy, fruit yield, quality, and nutritional status. The results showed that among the treatments, penicillin (PEN) with surfactant was most effective in suppressing Las titer in infected citrus trees, followed by Fosetyl-Al (ALI), Carvacrol (CARV), and Validamycin (VA). Fruit quality analysis revealed that PEN treatment increased the soluble solids content (SSC), whereas Oxytetracycline (OXY) treatment significantly reduced titratable acidity (TA) level and increased the SSC/TA ratio compared to the control. Nutrient analysis showed increased N and Zn levels in ALI and PEN treatments, and OXY treatment increased leaf P, K, S, and Mg levels compared to untreated control. Furthermore, B, Ca, Cu, Fe, and Mn in leaves were reduced in all chemical treatments than that of the untreated control. These findings revealed that some of the chemical treatments were able to suppress Las pathogen, enhance nutritional status in leaves, and improve tree growth and fruit quality of HLB-affected trees.

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