Sipping Fuel and Saving Lives: Increasing Fuel Economy without Sacrificing Safety

Demonstrates how new fuel-efficiency technologies make it possible, and advisable, to significantly increase the fuel economy of motor vehicles without compromising their safety

Potential Design, Implementation, and Benefits of a Feebate Program for New Passenger Vehicles in California: Interim Statement of Research Findings

A comprehensive study was undertaken to assess the potential design, implementation, and benefits of a feebate program in California as well as possible stakeholder responses. A feebate is a market- based policy for encouraging greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions from new passenger vehicles by levying fees on relatively high-emitting vehicles and providing rebates to lower-emitting vehicles. This study finds that feebate policies can be used in California to achieve additional reductions in greenhouse gases from new passenger vehicles beyond those projected from emission standards alone. Specifically, feebate policies affect the average emissions levels for the new vehicle fleet sold in each model year. The amount will depend on the design features of the feebate policy and other modeling assumptions. For the period 2011-2025, a moderate feebate program based on a footprint system with average rebates of $600 and average fees of$700 yields a 3 percent improvement, or about 2 percent of the reductions needed to achieve the AB 32 target

A Review of National MSW Generation Assessments in the United States

Municipal solid waste (MSW) is generated in very large quantities (probably, between 200 and 400 million tonnes per year) in the United States (US). MSW is generated at millions of places and there is no one precise, general definition for MSW that is generally applied, despite US Environmental Protection Agency efforts. As an element of both commerce and politics, reporting may be framed towards particular ends. Therefore, the two best known assessments of the quantity of US MSW production differ by approximately 50%. The assessors understand some of the reasons for the differences, but our analysis suggests that there are profound factors, not openly discussed, that affect estimates of waste stream size. Many regulators propose that strict, universal formats be adopted so that there is consistency in waste reporting; we note that this will not change the materials requiring management, only what is counted. Therefore, the most accurate assessments may be those where controllable errors are minimized but which suffer from differing definitions of “MSW.

Effects Of Caffeine Dose Timing On Total Urine Excretion During Sodium-Aided Hyperhydration Protocols

When used alone, both caffeine and sodium-aided hyperhydration (SAH) can be ergogenic. Although caffeine use in conjunction with SAH promotes diuresis, hyperhydration can be achieved, albeit at lower levels compared to SAH alone. Previous caffeine and SAH work has suggested most of the caffeine induced diuresis occurs within 15 min of consumption of a bolus of caffeine, sodium and water. This response suggests that caffeine-induces diuresis for only 15 min following its consumption, and/or that the diuretic effects of caffeine are dependent on hydration levels. PURPOSE: To determine the effects of caffeine, consumed at different time-points, on diuresis during SAH protocols. METHODS: Subjects were 17 healthy males (23 ± 5 yr, 177 ± 8 cm, 83.4 ± 15.3 kg). Each performed 4, 90 min hyperhydration trials in a randomized, double-blind fashion. Protocols began with a bladder void and measurement of urine specific gravity (USG) followed by ingestion of 15 mL H2O ∙ kg bm-1 with one of four treatments: Placebo (PL), 70.5 mg NaCl ∙ kg bm-1 (Na), or a combination of NaCl and caffeine consumed in two different strategies: 70.5 mg NaCl + 5 mg caffeine ∙ kg bm-1 taken at the start of the trial (NaCaf0), or 70.5 mg NaCl ∙ kg bm-1 taken at the start and 5 mg caffeine ∙ kg bm-1 taken at 75 min of the trial (NaCaf75). After consuming the water, subjects rested for 90 min performing a measured bladder void every 15 min. Total urine excreted (TUE) was expressed as a percentage of the total fluid consumed during the hyperhydration protocols. USG and TUE were compared using one-way repeated measures ANOVA with Sidak post hoc analyses. Levels of significance were set a priori at P \u3c 0.05. RESULTS: USGs were 1.007 ± 0.003 (PL), 1.008 ± 0.003 (Na), 1.007 ± 0.004 (NaCaf0), and 1.009 ± 0.004 (NaCaf75) (P \u3e 0.05). TUE for PL (87 ± 30%) was significantly higher than all other protocols (P \u3c 0.05). TUE for NaCaf0 (73 ± 16%) was significantly higher than Na (56 ± 18%, P = 0.02) and NaCaf75 (52 ± 13% P \u3c 0.01). NSD in TUE was observed between Na and NaCaf75. CONCLUSION: The results reaffirm that, when caffeine is consumed at the beginning of a SAH strategy, hyperhydration can be achieved, but at a lower level compared to SAH without caffeine. The results also suggest that waiting to consume caffeine until 75 min after water is consumed does not result in caffeine induced diuresis during a SAH protocol

Extended X-ray Emission From a Quasar-Driven Superbubble

We present observations of extended, 20-kpc scale soft X-ray gas around a luminous obscured quasar hosted by an ultra-luminous infrared galaxy caught in the midst of a major merger. The extended X-ray emission is well fit as a thermal gas with a temperature of kT ~ 280 eV and a luminosity of L_X ~ 10^42 erg/s and is spatially coincident with a known ionized gas outflow. Based on the X-ray luminosity, a factor of ~10 fainter than the [OIII] emission, we conclude that the X-ray emission is either dominated by photoionization, or by shocked emission from cloud surfaces in a hot quasar-driven wind.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ, 6 pages, 2 figure

Quantitative Assessments of Municipal Waste Management Systems: Using different indicators to compare and rank programs in New York State

The primary objective of waste management technologies and policies in theUnited Statesis to reduce the harmful environmental impacts of waste, particularly those relating to energy consumption and climate change. Performance indicators are frequently used to evaluate the environmental quality of municipal waste systems, as well as to compare and rank programs relative to each other in terms of environmental performance. However, there currently is no consensus on the best indicator for performing these environmental evaluations. The purpose of this study is to examine the common performance indicators used to assess the environmental benefits of municipal waste systems to determine if there is agreement between them regarding which system performs best environmentally. Focus is placed on how indicator selection influences comparisons between municipal waste management programs and subsequent system rankings. The waste systems of ten municipalities in the state ofNew York,USA, were evaluated using each common performance indicator and Spearman correlations were calculated to see if there was a significant association between system rank orderings. Analyses showed that rank orders of waste systems differ substantially when different indicators are used, suggesting that the current suite of indicators may not be suitable for evaluating environmental quality of municipal systems. Therefore, comparative system assessments based on indicators should be considered carefully, especially those intended to gauge environmental quality. Insight was also gained into specific factors which may lead to one system achieving higher rankings than another. However, despite the insufficiencies of indicators for comparative quality assessments, they do provide important information for waste managers and they can assist in evaluating internal programmatic performance and progress. To enhance these types of assessments, a framework for scoring indicators based on criteria that evaluate their utility and value for system evaluations was developed. This framework was used to construct an improved model for waste system performance assessments

Effects of Dose Timing on Fluid Excretion During Sodium-Aided Hyperhydration Protocols

Co-consumption of sodium and water has been shown to be superior in promoting hyperhydration compared to consumption of an equal amount of water alone. Most sodium-aided hyperhydration studies have provided subjects with a bolus of fluid followed by a urine collection period. However the effect of providing equal amounts of fluid in a single vs. multiple doses over time on fluid retention has not been systematically studied. PURPOSE: To compare the effects of different dosing strategies on urine excretion levels following the consumption of consistent amounts of sodium and water. METHODS: Urine excretion was measured during five separate 2-hr hyperhydration protocols in 13 well hydrated male subjects (23 ± 3 yr, 176.1 ± 10.1 cm, 82.2 ± 19.4 kg) who were free from known renal, digestive, and cardiovascular disease. Each protocol began with a complete bladder void and assessment of urine specific gravity (USG). Subjects then consumed 20 mL H2O ∙ kg bm-1 and 110 mg NaCl ∙ kg bm-1 in five different dosing strategies: the entire dose was consumed at the beginning of the period (1X), ½ of the dose was consumed at the beginning and ½ consumed after 60 min (2X), and 1/3 of the dose was consumed at the beginning and 1/3 was consumed after 45 and 90 min (3X), ¼ of the dose was consumed at the beginning and after 30, 60, and 90 min (4X), and 1/7 of the dose was consumed at the beginning and after 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 min (7X). Protocols were administered in a randomized, crossover fashion. Total urine excretions (TUE) during the 2 hr collection periods were expressed as a percent of the H2O consumed. USG and TUE were compared using repeated-measures ANOVA and Sidak post hoc analyses. RESULTS: USGs were 1.006 ± 0.004 (1X), 1.007 ± 0.003 (2X), 1.009 ± 0.005 (3X). 1.007 ± 0.004 (4X), and 1.007 ± 0.005 (7X) (P = 0.37 – 1.00) indicating that subjects were well and similarly hydrated for each trial. TUE expressed as a percentage of H2O consumed were 75 ± 18% (1X), 69 ± 11% (2X), 52% ± 15% (3X), 59 ± 15% (4X), and 60 ± 16% (7X). Significant differences in TUE were seen between 1X and 3X (P = 0.03) and 2X and 3X (P = 0.006). No significant difference in TUE was detected between any of the other protocols (P = 0.16 – 1.00). CONCLUSION: The data suggest that hyperhydration is better achieved when water and sodium are consumed in three equal doses over 90 min when compared to consuming an equal amount of a sodium and water dose in a single bolus or in two equal doses over a 60 min period. Consuming water in four or seven equal doses over 90 min did not result in better fluid retention than consuming an equal amount of water in a single bolus or in two equal doses over a 60 min period

NASA Hydrogen Peroxide Propellant Hazards Technical Manual

The Fire, Explosion, Compatibility and Safety Hazards of Hydrogen Peroxide NASA technical manual was developed at the NASA Johnson Space Center White Sands Test Facility. NASA Technical Memorandum TM-2004-213151 covers topics concerning high concentration hydrogen peroxide including fire and explosion hazards, material and fluid reactivity, materials selection information, personnel and environmental hazards, physical and chemical properties, analytical spectroscopy, specifications, analytical methods, and material compatibility data. A summary of hydrogen peroxide-related accidents, incidents, dose calls, mishaps and lessons learned is included. The manual draws from art extensive literature base and includes recent applicable regulatory compliance documentation. The manual may be obtained by United States government agencies from NASA Johnson Space Center and used as a reference source for hazards and safe handling of hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen vehicles: Impacts of DOE technical targets on market acceptance and societal benefits

Hydrogen vehicles (H2V), including H2 internal combustion engine, fuel cell and fuel cell plug-in hybrid, could greatly reduce petroleum consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transportation sector. The U.S. Department of Energy has adopted targets for vehicle component technologies to address key technical barriers to widespread commercialization of H2Vs. This study estimates the market acceptance of H2Vs and the resulting societal benefits and subsidy in 41 scenarios that reflect a wide range of progress in meeting these technical targets. Important results include: (1) H2Vs could reach 20–70% market shares by 2050, depending on progress in achieving the technical targets. With a basic hydrogen infrastructure (∼5% hydrogen availability), the H2V market share is estimated to be 2–8%. Fuel cell and hydrogen costs are the most important factors affecting the long-term market shares of H2Vs. (2) Meeting all technical targets on time could result in about an 80% cut in petroleum use and a 62% (or 72% with aggressive electricity de-carbonization) reduction in GHG in 2050. (3) The required hydrogen infrastructure subsidy is estimated to range from $22 to$47 billion and the vehicle subsidy from $4 to$17 billion. (4) Long-term H2V market shares, societal benefits and hydrogen subsidies appear to be highly robust against delay in one target, if all other targets are met on time. R&D diversification could provide insurance for greater societal benefits. (5) Both H2Vs and plug-in electric vehicles could exceed 50% market shares by 2050, if all targets are met on time. The overlapping technology, the fuel cell plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, appears attractive both in the short and long runs, but for different reasons

ISO 15859 Propellant and Fluid Specifications: A Review and Comparison with Military and NASA Specifications

This work presents an overview of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 15859 International Standard for Space Systems Fluid Characteristics, Sampling and Test Methods Parts 1 through 13 issued in June 2004. These standards establish requirements for fluid characteristics, sampling, and test methods for 13 fluids of concern to the propellant community and propellant characterization laboratories: oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, helium, nitrogen tetroxide, monomethylhydrazine, hydrazine, kerosene, argon, water, ammonia, carbon dioxide, and breathing air. A comparison of the fluid characteristics, sampling, and test methods required by the ISO standards to the current military and NASA specifications, which are in use at NASA facilities and elsewhere, is presented. Many ISO standards composition limits and other content agree with those found in the applicable parts of NASA SE-S-0073, NASA SSP 30573, military performance standards and details, and Compressed Gas Association (CGA) commodity specifications. The status of a current project managed at NASA Johnson Space Center White Sands Test Facility (WSTF) to rewrite these documents is discussed