Climate change contributions to conflict: an analysis of Syria, Yemen and Egypt

2021 Spring.Includes bibliographical references.Ascriptions of false, causal connections between climate change and conflict sets a dangerous precedent for future refugee migration. Classification of refugees fleeing murderous regimes and/or circumstances, as climate migrants attempting to escape areas impacted climatically, reduces the subjective severity of the actual situations they were fleeing. Potential harmful ramifications to their asylum claims could result, consequential of a reduction in perceived threat to those migrants' lives by Consular officials. It also delegitimizes future climate refugees' asylum claims, those truly fleeing areas devastated by the effects of climate change/variability. Responsible consideration of the latest 2018 IPCC Special Report indicates, absent aggressive greenhouse gas (GHG) abatement measures, these are migrant circumstances that are increasingly likely to manifest. Such false assertions also detract from placing responsibility for the deaths of hundreds of thousands and the displacement of millions where it should be placed: with the Syrian, Yemeni and Egyptian governments. Affirming climate change as the main causal factor that initiated the Syrian conflict allows the regime to shift focus from its own administrative failures that were in fact the largest contribution to a conflict that has witnessed the deaths of hundreds of thousands. Similarly, false attribution of climate effects to Yemen's calamitous situation allows the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, involving famine conditions for millions of Yemenis, to be mistakenly viewed within an environmental context. Deaths and atrocities purportedly resulting from climate phenomena shift responsibility from where it should lay, with the Yemeni conflict's belligerents and their egregious actions. Also, the identification of Egypt's socio and political maladies as primarily consequent of climatic events disallows for the reckoning of the true causes that fomented rebellion during Egypt's Arab Spring "awakening." Finally, such false proclamations inhibit accurate advances to empirical knowledge that could be used in the future towards conflict mitigation and prevention. Implications for future climate refugees and those fleeing violent conflict demand accurate identification of conflict causation. To demand anything less as a member of a global citizenry is a dereliction of one's responsibility to humanity

Swine Finishing Room Air Infiltration: Part 2. Infiltration as Affected by Room Characteristics

Data collected on 17 swine finishing rooms from the Midwest region of the United States was used to study the relationship between infiltration rate and selected room characteristics. Effect of individual room characteristics on room infiltration rate were tested by simple linear regression (SLR) while multiple linear regression (MLR) was used to develop models for improved prediction. SLR results revealed that the total (It) and other (Io; non-curtain/fan locations) swine finishing room infiltration rates were inversely related to room width and directly related to room length and ceiling height. As expected, rooms with higher curtain end pocket overlap, curtain closure overlap distance, and in excellent condition had reduced curtain infiltration (Ic). To reduce fan infiltration (If), fan and pump-out cover perimeter and fan area should be minimized. Power law equations fitted for groups of rooms were found ineffective in accounting for the large variability in infiltration rates of swine finishing rooms as compared to MLR models. MLR models developed for It and Io prediction at 10, 20, and 30 Pa pressure differences were found to improve the prediction over power law models for groups of rooms. At 20 Pa, prediction differences compared with individual room measurements for It rate using the suggested MLR model, as compared to power law models for groups of rooms, were less by at least 61%; whereas, in the case of Io rate, prediction differences compared with individual room measurements were less by at least 49%. Recommendations made in this article, with respect to the relationship between a particular room characteristic and room infiltration rate, could be used as guiding principles along with other design criterion to reduce infiltration rates in remodeled and new swine finishing rooms

An Increasingly Negative Outlook: How Income Inequality Affects Personal Consumption Expenditures

This paper analyzes the effects of income inequality on real personal consumption expenditures (RPCE) within the United States. At first glance, income inequality and RPCE have both risen over time. This paper examines whether income inequality actually causes growth in RPCE. We created a time-series model explaining RPCE with six explanatory variables and data spanning 37 years. Using this model, we were able to determine that income inequality has a statistically significant effect on RPCE. This effect becomes increasingly negative when the distribution of income becomes less equal and there is growth in real income. Thus, our results refute the possibility that income inequality has a positive effect on RPCE

Quantification of Site Layout and Filter Characteristics on Primary Filter Airflow Reduction on Commercial Swine Sites in Iowa

Fresh air intake filtration is used on commercial swine breeding-gestation-farrowing farms to reduce the frequency of airborne infectious agents. For swine producers, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), influenza A virus and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae are considered the most economically challenging airborne pathogens. Reduced frequency of disease outbreaks has been attributed to retrofitting existing systems with filtration. Economic analysis of operating costs includes energy use, maintenance and replacement of filters. Filter replacement, the largest operational cost, is dependent on filter lifespan. However, limited data is available on filter lifespan and the rate of airflow reduction during the high dust-loading periods typically encountered for filtered swine building ventilation systems. Therefore, the objectives of this study were (1) estimate the average primary filter airflow reduction per day, (2) identify the impact of factors related to site layout, filter characteristics and weather on airflow reduction rates of filters in positive-pressure ventilated buildings and (3) determine methods for reducing average primary filter airflow reduction rate per day during row-crop harvest season. Both filter brand and the installed orientation of the filter significantly (p = 0.0314, p = 0.0419, respectively) impacted airflow reduction rates. All site layout factors were significant (driveway side, p = 0.001; dormer orientation, p = 0.0001; and dormer configuration, p = 0.0001). The materials tested significantly reduced the airflow reduction rate during row-crop harvest. The information obtained in this study will aid producers when planning for filtration, highlight details relevant to the purchase and installation of filters, identify factors that affect filter lifespan and identify methods for improving filter lifespan

Beef Cattle Feeding in a Deep-Bedded Hoop Barn: Year One

A three-year study evaluating the performance of yearling steers in a deep-bedded hoop barn has completed the first year. A 50 × 120 foot hoop barn was constructed at the ISU Armstrong Research Farm in the late fall of 2004. The comparison feedlot is an outside lot with shelter that includes a drive-through feed alley. For the first year of the three-year study, two groups of yearling steers were fed. The first group (Group 1) was put on test August 5, 2005 and marketed on November 15, 2005 for a summer/fall feeding period. The second group (Group 2) was put on test December 21, 2005 and marketed in two drafts on April 4, 2006 and May 10, 2006 for a winter/spring feeding period. Overall the cattle performed similarly with similar carcass data for both housing systems. The information presented is the first year of a three-year study. The cattle had a lower mud score in the hoop barn, particularly for the winter/spring feeding period. As expected the deep-bedded hoop system used more bedding than the semi-confinement lots. The bedded hoop barn required about 5 to 6 lb of cornstalk bedding per head per day that the steers were on feed

Beef Cattle Feeding in a Deep Bedded Hoop Barn: A Preliminary Study

A deep bedded hoop confinement building was constructed at the ISU Armstrong Research Farm in Southwest Iowa in 2004. The building consists of three pens. Shortly after the completion of construction a preliminary study was initiated to compare performance, carcass characteristics, and bedding and labor use to that of a conventional semi-confinement system. The cattle used in this study were steer and heifer calves from the ISU McNay Research Farm. Performance and carcass measurements appeared similar comparing the two systems. However, the hoop building cattle used more bedding and appeared to have lower mud scores. Labor use may have favored the hoop building compared to the conventional system. In 2005, a three year study was initiated to compare the systems with yearling steers. Two turns of yearling cattle will be fed each year, one in summer and one in winter

Swine Finishing Room Air Infiltration: Part 1. Quantification and Prediction

Air infiltration through unplanned inlets is an integral component of any ventilation process. Air infiltration affects the quality of the room environment and can also increase winter heating costs. Precise data on air infiltration is very important in the design of animal room ventilation systems. Nineteen mechanically ventilated (negative pressure type) swine finishing rooms in Iowa were tested for their air infiltration potential. Using the data of 17 rooms, air infiltration rate through the whole room (i.e., total air infiltration, It), curtains (Ic), fans (If) and net building shell (other components, Io) were quantified. Power law equations were developed for infiltration prediction of different room configurations grouped on the basis of their construction style, age, ceiling material, curtain perimeter, and fan backdraft shutter area. All power law models reported in this study were adjusted to predict standard (sea level) infiltration rates. At 20 Pa pressure difference across the room envelope, the predicted standard It infiltration rate for the 17 rooms was 5.96±1.49 air changes per hour (ACH); whereas, the predicted standard Ic, If, and Ioinfiltration rates were 1.49 ±1.00 ACH (about 25% of It), 1.52 ±1.38 ACH (about 26% of It) and 2.90 ±1.42 ACH (about 49% of It), respectively. The standard Itinfiltration rate trended lower for rooms (n=8) from single room layout barns (5.85 ±1.66 at 20 Pa), rooms (n=8) having a non-metal ceiling (5.85 ±2.15 at 20 Pa), and rooms (n=8) aged = 13 years (5.85 ±2.15 at 20 Pa). The infiltration resistances, calculated using standard sea level infiltration rates, indicated that the curtain, fan, and other infiltration areas of swine finishing rooms changes with barn layout, age, construction material, and pressure difference. Methodology to convert measured infiltration rates to standard sea level weather conditions and to any desired room location was included

The Relation Between Interest in Science and Children’s Scientific Thinking in Middle to Late Childhood

This study examined the relation between 9 and 12-year-old children’s interest in science and their scientific thinking skills. Eighty children aged 9 and 12 years and their parents reported their interest in science and children answered epistemological understanding questions and solved scientific reasoning problems during a one-time laboratory visit. In addition, children answered questions concerning their concept of science, their parents’ interest in science, and individual factors related to scientific thinking. During the child’s participation, their parent filled out demographic, academic achievement, and their own interest in science questionnaires. Findings reveal that children’s interest in science and concept of science related to their epistemological understanding, and the relation between children’s interest in science and epistemological understanding is mediated by children’s critical thinking skills. Results further showed that children’s age and academic achievement, but not interest in science, related to their scientific reasoning skills. Other findings revealed that children’s identification with science as an interest was the predominant characteristic of interest to relate to epistemological understanding, and that children’s interest in science related to children’s perception of their mothers as interested in science. These findings are discussed in relation to their implications for further research and educational implementation

Improvement to Air Management Practices Assessment Tool (AMPAT): Scientific Literature Database

The livestock and poultry production industry lacks a current, science-based guide for evaluation of air quality mitigation technologies. Therefore, we performed a science-based review of mitigation technologies using practical, stakeholders-oriented evaluation criteria to identify knowledge gaps/needs and focuses for future research efforts on technologies and areas with the greatest impact potential. Our objectives were to (1) present a recently completed Literature Database, and (2) identify and rank research needs and knowledge gaps based on the Literature Database. The Air Management Practices Tool (AMPAT) is web-based (available at www.agronext.iastate.edu/ampat) and provides an objective overview of mitigation practices best suited to address odor, gaseous, and particulate matter (PM) emissions at livestock operations. This tool helps livestock and poultry producers compare and explore different mitigation technologies. Simultaneously, a literature review of 267 papers was performed to evaluate mitigation technologies performance for emissions of odor, VOCs, NH3, H2S, PM, and GHGs and inform future research needs. Swine production systems were the most researched with 52% of the data entries. Housing and manure storage were the most researched sources of emissions with 41 and 43% of the data entries respectively. Biofilters were the most popular and farm tested technology for reducing emissions from animal housing. Aeration, anaerobic digestion, composting, diet manipulation and covers were the most researched technologies for reducing emission during manure storage and handling, with aeration being the most effective means of odor reduction farm scale tested. Injection or incorporation was the most farm tested and effective technology researched for land application