Analysis of Monthly, Seasonal, and Yearly Wind Flow Over the Ometepe Island in Lake Nicaragua

The health issues on the Ometepe Island in Lake Nicaragua are directly influenced by the open-pit fires inside of homes on the island and the particulates they produce. Understanding the prevailing wind patterns of the area would result in better advice for local homeowners on how to foster natural air flow through their homes and minimize the concentrations of trapped particulates. The purpose of this study is to identify prevailing wind patterns over the island in the monthly, seasonal, and yearly time frames. Due to the limited observations in the island area, the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF) was run at 1.33 km grid spacing, focusing on the area around the island to verify the small existing data set. Because of the verification, WRF simulations were used for an analysis of average wind direction and speed in the hopes of finding common, predictable wind patterns in the simulated data set. It is hypothesized that the most variation will occur between wind speed and direction in the wet and dry seasons, as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) will migrate southward into the area. With these useful climatologies, individuals in the local area should be able to create a mechanism to maximize awareness of how to properly foster natural cross-breeze ventilation

The Material Remains of World War II on Viti Levu: A Historical Archaeological Inventory

World War II was a global conflict that dramatically changed many aspects of society in the late 1940’s. It transformed the landscape of many locations, leaving behind a vast and diverse material record. Although the battles of the conflict never reached Fiji, a British colony in the South Pacific, the war greatly impacted the island group. Fiji was under threat of Japanese invasion for the majority of 1942 and part of 1943, which resulted in a build up of military forces and defensive installations. In the later years, Fiji was used as a forward base for the Allied forces, which resulted in the construction of transportation infrastructure, as well as an influx of Allied troops and supplies coming into the island. This study is a historical archaeological inventory of the significant World War II heritage sites on the main island of Fiji, Viti Levu. The study also discusses how the war impacted Fiji and laid the groundwork for many aspects of modern life in the islands

World War II Archaeology in Fiji: Assessing the Material Record

World War II was a global conflict that dramatically changed societies and landscapes around the world. It also left behind a vast and diverse material record. Although the battles of the conflict never reached Fiji, a British colony in the South Pacific, the War\u27s impact on the island group is clear. Through 1942 and part of 1943, while under threat of Japanese invasion, defensive installations and occupation facilities were built on the island. In the later years of the war, Fiji became a forward base for the Allied forces. This resulted in the construction of transportation infrastructure, and an influx of Allied troops and supplies. This paper presents an inventory of the significant World War II heritage sites on the main island of Fiji, Viti Levu. The study also discusses how the war impacted Fiji and laid the groundworkfor aspects of modern life in the island nation

Law and other-spaces: legal geographies of the Sinai peninsula

In recent years, Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula has joined an unfortunate category of what I call ‘Outlaw spaces’: spaces that are characterized and understood as being shaped by crisis, chaos and collapse. Outlaw spaces –which include the “black holes,” the “breeding grounds,” the “security vacuums” and the “no man’s lands” that have proliferated in the post-9/11 era—are constructed through the interplay of both legal and imaginative geographies. Mapping and labeling certain zones as lawless, chaotic and dangerous is deceptive. There is nothing natural about Outlaw spaces and it is not always clear where they begin and where they end. While Outlaw spaces are imagined as law-less, law may still be present – even abundant – in the space but works in strategic ways and along specific trajectories. Whether Outlaw spaces are dangerous, lawless, chaotic or not, the drawing of boundaries and labeling of the spaces they demarcate amounts to a forceful exercise of power and has important implications for the ways in which the space will be regulated, not regulated or selectively regulated through law. Conceiving a space to be outside the law not only creates truths about that space, it also seeks to provide an explanation for the nature of these spaces and in doing so, asserts the opposite qualities of in-law spaces that are constructed in their opposition. These processes of mapping, zoning, dividing and labeling of space are not just a tool for the use or non-use of law within a space, they also seek to provide a narrative for why the imperial eye of law has failed in its efforts to infinitely extend its reach to sanction and transform the Other. Rather than sanctioning, transforming or rebuilding Outlaw spaces, they may instead be simply contained, controlled, exploited or ignored

An Historical Archaeological Investigation of the Indianola Prisoner of War Camp in Southwestern Nebraska

Second World War military operations resulted in the capture of thousands of prisoners of war. This led to the creation of internment facilities by both the Axis and the Allies. Archaeologists have begun to examine these facilities. The United States government established a POW program with numerous camps all over the country. This study provides the results of historical archaeological research at the Indianola prisoner of war camp in southwestern Nebraska. A goal of this research is to determine if the archaeological record reflects adherence to the Geneva Convention of 1929. The investigation included archival research and archaeological fieldwork with metal detector survey and test excavation. Findings indicate that prisoner areas were strictly policed and that camps were salvaged and reused after the war. This study also discusses the effectiveness of various methodological approaches to the study of internment and proposes a new theoretical model based on the Geneva Convention. Adviser: Peter Blee

An Historical Archaeological Investigation of the Indianola Prisoner of War Camp in Southwestern Nebraska

Second World War military operations resulted in the capture of thousands of prisoners of war. This led to the creation of internment facilities by both the Axis and the Allies. Archaeologists have begun to examine these facilities. The United States government established a POW program with numerous camps all over the country. This study provides the results of historical archaeological research at the Indianola prisoner of war camp in southwestern Nebraska. A goal of this research is to determine if the archaeological record reflects adherence to the Geneva Convention of 1929. The investigation included archival research and archaeological fieldwork with metal detector survey and test excavation. Findings indicate that prisoner areas were strictly policed and that camps were salvaged and reused after the war. This study also discusses the effectiveness of various methodological approaches to the study of internment and proposes a new theoretical model based on the Geneva Convention. Adviser: Peter Blee

13C flux analysis in industrial CHO cell culture applications

Industrial bioprocesses place extraordinary demands on the intermediary metabolism of host cells to meet the biosynthetic requirements for maximal growth and protein expression. Identifying host cell metabolic phenotypes that promote high recombinant protein titer is a major goal of the biotech industry. 13C metabolic flux analysis (MFA) provides a rigorous approach to quantify these metabolic phenotypes by applying stable isotope tracers to map the flow of carbon through intracellular metabolic pathways. We have conducted a series of 13C MFA studies to examine the metabolic impacts of multiple stressors on CHO cell metabolism. First, we analyzed the effects of various media compositions and supplementation regimens on CHO cell metabolism. The basal media developed in-house by an industrial collaborator was chemically altered to cause cells to produce less ammonia byproduct. This was tested against the basal media and the basal media supplemented with experimental levels of ammonia. From the comparison of the 13C flux analysis of CHO cells grown identically in the three media types, we have found that neither the chemical composition of the media nor the mere presence of ammonia in the cultures significantly altered cell metabolism. This suggests that the collaborator can use their new medium formulation without altering the metabolic phenotype of their IgG producing CHO cell lines. We are also implementing 13C MFA studies in several IgG producing cell lines to elucidate metabolic phenotypes associated with high-yield recombinant protein expression. From previous studies, it has been established that there exists a high-productivity metabolic phenotype largely identifiable by an increase in oxidative metabolism. We are engineering these proprietary IgG-producing CHO cells to up-regulate their citric acid cycle (CAC) metabolism to potentially increase IgG productivities. Through 13C stable isotope tracing, we can verify increased flux through the CAC and confirm the rational engineering of a high-productivity phenotype. These studies prove the value of 13C MFA in assessing the metabolic response to changing medium formulations or rational engineering of the host cell genome. This poster will outline the methodology used to elucidate CHO cell metabolic phenotypes in these studies as well as the potential use for this method in future studies to further increase IgG productivity and titer of industrial host lines

A Multidimensional Analysis of Stigma: Findings from a Qualitative Study of Fukushima Residents Following Japan’s 2011 Nuclear Disaster

This study examines stigma from the perspective of residents of Fukushima prefecture following the 2011 nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan, to better understand effective crisis communication strategies that can mitigate the negative effects of self-stigma and promote sustainable psychosocial recovery. Social cognitive theory was employed to explore cognitive, affective, and behavioral changes faced by Fukushima residents in response to the stigma imposed upon them after the disaster. The study result based on in-depth interviews with residents of Shinchimachi, Fukushima, indicates that affectively, participants experienced a remarkable amount of fear and sadness. Cognitively, they focused on concerns about outsiders’ negative images or misinformation about Fukushima, changed priorities or values, and self-efficacy. Behaviorally, they actively resisted the stigma while strengthening their connections and belonging to their own community. Additionally, residents felt that they were branded as polluted and contagious and attributed the creation of a Fukushima stigma to a lack of full and accurate information as well as mistrust in main information sources, including media and government. This research suggests that developing a more transparent and locally based communication and information system could mitigate the negative effects of self-stigma. Theoretical implications for future research and policy suggestions for crisis communications are discussed