Assessing the critical material constraints on low carbon infrastructure transitions

We present an assessment method to analyze whether the disruption in supply of a group of materials endangers the transition to low-carbon infrastructure. We define criticality as the combination of the potential for supply disruption and the exposure of the system of interest to that disruption. Low-carbon energy depends on multiple technologies comprised of a multitude of materials of varying criticality. Our methodology allows us to assess the simultaneous potential for supply disruption of a range of materials. Generating a specific target level of low-carbon energy implies a dynamic roll-out of technology at a specific scale. Our approach is correspondingly dynamic, and monitors the change in criticality during the transition towards a low-carbon energy goal. It is thus not limited to the quantification of criticality of a particular material at a particular point in time. We apply our method to criticality in the proposed UK energy transition as a demonstration, with a focus on neodymium use in electric vehicles. Although we anticipate that the supply disruption of neodymium will decrease, our results show the criticality of low carbon energy generation increases, as a result of increasing exposure to neodymium-reliant technologies. We present a number of potential responses to reduce the criticality through a reduction in supply disruption potential of the exposure of the UK to that disruption

Coalition capacity assessment of Columbia coalitions for a healthier Columbia (a qualitative assessment) [abstract]

Obesity is one of the leading public health concerns in the United States in adults and children. This qualitative study focused on five coalitions involved in addressing this issue in Columbia, MO. The coalitions are Playgrounds Without Borders Community Steering Committee, Columbia Action Network, Healthy Environment Policy Initiative, Grow Healthy Columbia/Boone County Partnership, and Move More Eat Smart

Large Area Crop Inventory Experiment (LACIE). User requirements

There are no author-identified significant results in this report

The influence of increased contact rate among raccoons on a nematode of public, and wildlife health concern, Baylisascar [abstract]

Abstract only availableNatural and anthropogenic fluctuations in resource availability can alter the behavioral ecology and population dynamics of wildlife. This may have unintended consequences to wildlife disease ecology, as theoretical models predict parasite transmission is highly dependent on contact rate and density of individuals within a population. We examined the influence of alterations in the behavioral ecology of hosts on the nematode Baylisascaris procyonis of raccoons, that can infect and cause disease and mortality in a variety of animals, including humans. Twelve populations of free-ranging raccoons were monitored for three years. After one year of baseline data collection, we experimentally altered the contact rate and resource availability of randomly selected populations via dispersed or clumped food distributions. Rates of contact were measured via remote cameras and host characteristics (age, sex) and infection of B. procyonis in individuals were assessed via live-capture and standard sugar flotation techniques. Prevalence of B. procyonis averaged 6.5% at three control sites (no food added; n=186 individuals), 14.3% at four sites had dispersed food additions (n=42), and 21% at five sites with clumped food additions that aggregated raccoons (n=81). The 95% confidence interval of prevalence at experimental sites did not overlap with values observed at control sites. Data collected prior to manipulation indicated that differences observed during the experiment were not due to naturally occurring differences at those sites; prevalence of B. procyonis averaged 2.3% at sites assigned to the control category, 5.4% at sites assigned to the dispersed food category, and 4.1% at sites assigned to the experimental category. These results support the hypothesis that increased rates of contact can increase transmission of parasites such as B. procyonis, and emphasize the potentially important role of anthropogenic activity in wildlife disease ecology when dealing with species that can take advantage of such resources and tolerate aggregations of conspecifics.NSF Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmental Biolog

Failure and impact behavior of facade panels made of glass fiber reinforced cement(GRC)

GRC is a cementitious composite material made up of a cement mortar matrix and chopped glass fibers. Due to its outstanding mechanical properties, GRC has been widely used to produce cladding panels and some civil engineering elements. Impact failure of cladding panels made of GRC may occur during production if some tool falls onto the panel, due to stone or other objects impacting at low velocities or caused by debris projected after a blast. Impact failure of a front panel of a building may have not only an important economic value but also human lives may be at risk if broken pieces of the panel fall from the building to the pavement. Therefore, knowing GRC impact strength is necessary to prevent economic costs and putting human lives at risk. One-stage light gas gun is an impact test machine capable of testing different materials subjected to impact loads. An experimental program was carried out, testing GRC samples of five different formulations, commonly used in building industry. Steel spheres were shot at different velocities on square GRC samples. The residual velocity of the projectiles was obtained both using a high speed camera with multiframe exposure and measuring the projectile’s penetration depth in molding clay blocks. Tests were performed on young and artificially aged GRC samples to compare GRC’s behavior when subjected to high strain rates. Numerical simulations using a hydrocode were made to analyze which parameters are most important during an impact event. GRC impact strength was obtained from test results. Also, GRC’s embrittlement, caused by GRC aging, has no influence on GRC impact behavior due to the small size of the projectile. Also, glass fibers used in GRC production only maintain GRC panels’ integrity but have no influence on GRC’s impact strength. Numerical models have reproduced accurately impact tests

The influence of increased contact rate among raccoons on a directly transmitted nematode, Baylisascaris procyonis [abstract]

Abstract only availableHuman encroachment on wildlife habitat can result in anthropogenic food sources that aggregate raccoons. This may have unintended consequences to wildlife and human health, as theoretical models predict parasite transmission is highly dependent on the contact rate and density of individuals within a population. We examined the influence of contact rate on a directly transmitted nematode (Baylisascaris procyonis) of raccoons that can infect and cause disease and mortality in a wide range of accidental hosts, including humans. Twelve populations of free-ranging raccoons were monitored for three years. After one year of baseline data collection, we experimentally altered the contact rate and resource availability of randomly selected populations via dispersed or clumped food distributions. Prior to manipulation, prevalence of B. procyonis averaged 9% across all sites (range 0-35%). During the experiment, prevalence of B. procyonis averaged 4% at control sites (no food added), 18% at sites that had dispersed food additions (which did not increase contact), and 22% at sites with clumped food additions that aggregated raccoons. Data collected prior to the experiment indicated that sites that were assigned to the dispersed food treatment had a naturally-occurring higher prevalence (13%) than the sites assigned to the control (5%) and aggregation treatment (9%), indicating that the high values observed in the dispersed food sites during the experiment may be due to site-specific differences rather than the addition of dispersed food. These results support the hypothesis that increased rates of contact can increase transmission of directly transmitted parasites such as B. procyonis, and emphasize the potentially important role of anthropogenic activity in the ecology of diseases when dealing with wildlife species that can take advantage of such resources and tolerate large aggregations of conspecifics

Lord Baltimore\u27s Charter and the Definition of the English-Colonial Relationship in the Seventeenth Century

In the years 1650 to 1658 the Maryland colony faced severe political instability as a result of the conflict between Proprietor Cecilius Calvert and the Puritan population settled in Ann Arundel County. The roots of the conflict were found in the colony\u27s royal charter, which conferred the Catholic proprietor with extensive powers of government. The Puritan population found this concentration of authority in the hands of a Catholic government intolerable and appealed to the English Commonwealth to void Baltimore\u27s colonial charter. Instead Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell allowed the charter to stand, and in doing so ratified the differences in conditions between the colony and the homeland that allowed Catholics to exercise legal authority in Maryland. The Puritan population interpreted this difference in conditions to equate with an inferior political status but accepted the decision of the English authorities and negotiated a settlement with Lord Baltimore. However, the dispute revealed deeply rooted tensions in the English ideology of colonialism that foreshadowed later disputes over the political status of colonial subjects and ultimately led to the American War of Independence

Salt Movement and Forage Crop Establishment in a Saline-Alkali Soil as Influenced by Ridges and Furrows, Sprinkler Irrigation, and Soil Amendments

An estimated two to four million acres of irrigable saline and alkali soils of the United States return very little income to land owners (17,19). Increased needs for forage crops, and the relatively high salt and alkali tolerance of some improved forage species, once established, suggests a way of increasing revenue from some of these lands without costly reclamation

Enhanced ionization in small rare gas clusters

A detailed theoretical investigation of rare gas atom clusters under intense short laser pulses reveals that the mechanism of energy absorption is akin to {\it enhanced ionization} first discovered for diatomic molecules. The phenomenon is robust under changes of the atomic element (neon, argon, krypton, xenon), the number of atoms in the cluster (16 to 30 atoms have been studied) and the fluency of the laser pulse. In contrast to molecules it does not dissappear for circular polarization. We develop an analytical model relating the pulse length for maximum ionization to characteristic parameters of the cluster

Insulin resistance in type 1 diabetes: what is ‘double diabetes’ and what are the risks?

In this review, we explore the concept of ‘double diabetes’, a combination of type 1 diabetes with features of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. After considering whether double diabetes is a useful concept, we discuss potential mechanisms of increased insulin resistance in type 1 diabetes before examining the extent to which double diabetes might increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We then go on to consider the proposal that weight gain from intensive insulin regimens may be associated with increased CV risk factors in some patients with type 1 diabetes, and explore the complex relationships between weight gain, insulin resistance, glycaemic control and CV outcome. Important comparisons and contrasts between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes are highlighted in terms of hepatic fat, fat partitioning and lipid profile, and how these may differ between type 1 diabetic patients with and without double diabetes. In so doing, we hope this work will stimulate much-needed research in this area and an improvement in clinical practice