On the use of sprays to intercept airborne embers during wildfires

This technical note outlines an initial assessment of the feasibility of using water sprays to intercept and extinguish airborne embers, as a means to protect buildings during wildfires. An analytical model was developed to calculate the probability of inter-particle collisions within two intersecting streams of particles, and was then applied to a range of test cases involving embers and water droplets. Results from this simplified analysis indicated that water sprays could effectively protect buildings from \u27ember attack\u27 in this manner, but only when either: i) large water flow rates were used (in the order of 1 L s−1 per metre of building perimeter to be protected), or ii) the sprays were comprised of very small (~0.1 mm) droplets at moderate water flow rates (~0.1 L s−1 m−1). It is likely that the quantity of water required to satisfy (i) would not be available in many circumstances, and further investigation is required to determine whether sprays of ~0.1 mm droplets could operate effectively in the conditions of a wildfire. The analysis presented herein would be a suitable basis for further investigation into these spray systems, and for quantitative comparison with other types of wildfire sprinkler systems

Editors' introduction to special theme issue [of International Journal of Pedagogies and Learning]: Meanings emerging in practice (Part 3)

This issue publishes the third and final set of refereed papers from the first wave proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Pedagogies and Learning, held at the Springfield Campus of the University of Southern Queensland in Australia on 27 and 28 September 2007. This third conference in the series focused on “Meanings Emerging in Practice” as a lens for examining and evaluating multiple enactments of pedagogies and learning

THE DIMINISHMENT OF THE GREAT SIOUX RESERVATION TREATIES, TRICKS, AND TIME

Historically, Indian-white relations have been marred by mistrust and dishonesty. This is especially true in numerous land dealings between the United States government and the Lakota/ Dakota/Nakota people of the northern Great Plains. Indeed, the U.S. Supreme Court noted, A more ripe and rank case of dishonorable dealings will never, in all probability, be found in our history. 1 Our focus here is to chronicle and analyze the tragic diminishment of the Great Sioux Reservation, first established by the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851.2 The land loss progressed with the Homestead Act of 1862, Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868, Act of 1877, Allotment Act of 1887, Act of 1889, the Wheeler-Howard Act, the Pick-Sloan Flood Control Act of 1944, and the Indian Land Consolidation Act. Today, the Lakota/Dakota/ Nakota people remain committed to reversing this trend by reacquiring lost tribal lands and reestablishing the prominence of their culture, language, customs, values, and beliefs. What we present is a multifaceted approach for tribes to consider in reacquiring lost lands. Although outright purchase of land is an option for any tribe, Brian Sawers recommends, because of the high cost of land, that tribes rely on incorporation and eminent domain to consolidate ownership and control allotted lands in a tribal enterprise.

THE DIMINISHMENT OF THE GREAT SIOUX RESERVATION TREATIES, TRICKS, AND TIME

Historically, Indian-white relations have been marred by mistrust and dishonesty. This is especially true in numerous land dealings between the United States government and the Lakota/ Dakota/Nakota people of the northern Great Plains. Indeed, the U.S. Supreme Court noted, A more ripe and rank case of dishonorable dealings will never, in all probability, be found in our history. 1 Our focus here is to chronicle and analyze the tragic diminishment of the Great Sioux Reservation, first established by the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851.2 The land loss progressed with the Homestead Act of 1862, Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868, Act of 1877, Allotment Act of 1887, Act of 1889, the Wheeler-Howard Act, the Pick-Sloan Flood Control Act of 1944, and the Indian Land Consolidation Act. Today, the Lakota/Dakota/ Nakota people remain committed to reversing this trend by reacquiring lost tribal lands and reestablishing the prominence of their culture, language, customs, values, and beliefs. What we present is a multifaceted approach for tribes to consider in reacquiring lost lands. Although outright purchase of land is an option for any tribe, Brian Sawers recommends, because of the high cost of land, that tribes rely on incorporation and eminent domain to consolidate ownership and control allotted lands in a tribal enterprise.

The toxicology of heroin‐related death: estimating survival times

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134443/1/add13547.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134443/2/add13547_am.pd

A review of Multi-Agent Simulation Models in Agriculture

Multi-Agent Simulation (MAS) models are intended to capture emergent properties of complex systems that are not amenable to equilibrium analysis. They are beginning to see some use for analysing agricultural systems. The paper reports on work in progress to create a MAS for specific sectors in New Zealand agriculture. One part of the paper focuses on options for modelling land and other resources such as water, labour and capital in this model, as well as markets for exchanging resources and commodities. A second part considers options for modelling agent heterogeneity, especially risk preferences of farmers, and the impacts on decision-making. The final section outlines the MAS that the authors will be constructing over the next few years and the types of research questions that the model will help investigate.multi-agent simulation models, modelling, agent-based model, cellular automata, decision-making, Crop Production/Industries, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, Land Economics/Use, Livestock Production/Industries,

Combination Olanzapine and Samidorphan for the Management of Schizophrenia and Bipolar 1 Disorder in Adults: A Narrative Review

Schizophrenia is a debilitating psychotic disorder characterized by positive symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thoughts, and negative symptoms like lack of effect or motivation. Bipolar 1 disorder (B1D) is a psychiatric illness characterized by recurrent manic episodes in alternation with depressive episodes and interspersed periods of euthymia, ultimately resulting in psychological distress and impairment of daily functioning. Effective treatments are needed for both schizophrenia and B1D to reach the treatment goals of reducing the debilitating symptomology, improving social functioning and quality of life, and increasing the chances of recovery and more favorable long-term outcomes. To date, olanzapine is one of the most efficacious atypical antipsychotics (AAPs) for the treatment of both schizophrenia and B1D and is associated with fewer extrapyramidal effects compared to other treatments. However, compared to other AAPs, olanzapine is associated with a greater chance of metabolic syndrome, limiting its clinical use and affecting treatment compliance. Samidorphan mitigates the weight gain side effects of olanzapine by antagonizing μ-, κ-, and δ-opioid receptors. The use of combination drugs to treat psychiatric conditions is an emerging field with the goal of increasing therapeutic efficacy and decreasing undesirable side effects. Clinical trials have demonstrated combination on olanzapine and samidorphan (OLZ/SAM) treatment resulted in significantly less weight gain than olanzapine monotherapy. Clinical trial patients reported improvements in symptoms of psychosis, reduced weight gain, and overall satisfaction with their treatment. OLZ/SAM has been as shown to be a safe and effective pharmaceutical option for the clinical management of schizophrenia and B1D

Fate of Crude and Refined Oils in North Slope Soils

Prudhoe Bay crude oil and refined diesel fuel were applied to five topographically distinct tundra soils at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. The penetration of hydrocarbons into the soil column depended on soil moisture and drainage characteristics. Biodegradation, shown by changes in the pristane to heptadecane and resolvable to total gas chromatographic area ratios, appeared to be greatly restricted in drier tundra soils during one year exposure. Some light hydrocarbons, C9-C10, were recovered from soils one year after spillages. Hydrocarbons were still present in soils at Fish Creek, Alaska, contaminated by refined oil spillages 28 years earlier, attesting to the persistence of hydrocarbons in North Slope soils