Buffalo, MN: A Transect-Based Land Use Strategy

The objectives of this thesis are to explore the social, economic, and environmental dynamics of land use regulations and examine design strategies to increase the community identity and the preservation of natural resources within the city of Buffalo, Minnesota. Transect Mapping (Criterion 2005) is used to create alternative land use proposals for the city and adjacent areas. The use of SmartCode v8.0 (Placemakers 2006) principles assists in the implementation of new land use proposals. Cities were originally an invention to maximize the exchange of goods, services, cultures, friendships, ideas, and knowledge while minimizing travel. (Engwicht 1993) Until the decades following WWII most communities in the United States were built to satisfy these needs. With new loan programs, federal and local subsidies for road improvements, and the convenience and affordability of automotive commuting following WWII, housing types gradually moved from historic traditional neighborhoods to sprawling suburban developments along the periphery of established cities. The purpose of the thesis is to provide a media for the exploration of real alternatives to current land use plans and zoning regulations for Buffalo city officials and residents. The new alternative is one that increases social interactions, economic vitality, and creates a greater sense of community for the city of Buffalo. These improvements establish a community ?Identity? for both visitors and residents of Buffalo. A build-out analysis illustrates the benefits these proposals offer for development patterns and densities, economic growth, and the preservation of natural resources. It appears from my analyzes that there are compact, pedestrian friendly options for continued development within the city of Buffalo and adjacent land areas. By restructuring the way land use plans and regulations are designed, more viable economic, social, and environmental land use alternatives are possible

Temperature dependence of neutron-induced soft errors in SRAMs

We irradiated commercial SRAMs with wide-spectrum neutrons at different temperatures. We observed that, depending on the vendor, the soft error rate either increases or slightly decreases with temperature, even in devices belonging to the same technology node. SPICE simulations were used to investigate the temperature dependence of the cell feedback time and restoring current. The shape and magnitude of the particle-induced transient current is discussed as a function of temperature. The variability in the response is attributed to the balance of contrasting factors, such as cell speed reduction and increased diffusion with increasing temperature. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Drivers of tight carbon control in the context of climate change regulation

Our study examines the drivers of tight budgetary control in carbon management in the context of climate change regulation. Using the setting of New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), our study explores how firms manage their carbon performance using carbon‐focused budgetary control. Based on a survey data from New Zealand firms, including both those with and those without an ETS compliance obligations, our results suggest that economic and regulatory environmental pressures, the level of proactiveness of emissions management strategy, the level of integration of carbon issues in strategic and operational processes and the perceived importance of carbon issues are the significant drivers of tight carbon‐focused budgetary control