Distributional Analyses of Revenue Options for Alaska

A new report commissioned by Rasmuson Foundation as part of its Plan4Alaska campaign finds that while strategies currently proposed to close Alaska's $4 billion budget gap would significantly improve the state's fiscal standing, a diversified revenue strategy is needed this year to close the gap and equitably distribute financial impact. Rasmuson Foundation commissioned the report in response to comments from lawmakers about the dearth of economic data available to gauge the impact of various revenue scenarios. "Distributional Analyses of Revenue Options for Alaska" was produced by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), a nonprofit, non-partisan research organization with a mission to ensure that elected officials, the media, and the general public have access to accurate, timely, and straightforward information that allows them to understand the effects of current and proposed tax policies. ITEP used Gov. Bill Walker's Sustainable Alaska Plan in its analysis, and evaluated its proposed reductions to the Permanent Fund dividend, and income, alcohol, tobacco, and motor fuel tax increases to determine effects on Alaskans at different income levels. ITEP found that a fiscal plan that relied heavily on Permanent Fund earnings without income tax and other forms of taxation would disproportionately impact middle-income working families and low-income Alaskans. The report also examines a variety of options to derive more revenue from the income tax and less from reductions to the dividend. Among the alternative income tax structures examined are a doubling of the governor's proposed tax, the implementation of a more progressive income tax proposed by Rep. Paul Seaton in 2015, and the enactment of a 6.4 percent flat tax on incomes over$100,000 (or over $200,000 for married couples)

Using confocal scanning laser microscopy to characterise as-cast microstructures using cooling rates representative of thin slab direct cast steels

To meet the increasing demand for better energy efficiency and higher production rates, a range of accelerated cooled continuous casting methods are being used. Replicating the solidification conditions in the laboratory is challenging but essential if issues such as segregation and microstructure development are to be understood. In this paper a method for analysing an as-cast structure both in- and ex-situ at cooling rates of 1 and 50 °C/s, using a high temperature confocal scanning laser microscope, has been detailed. The method has been developed to obtain directional dendritic solidification in an orientation that allows for solute rejection 360° around the dendrite arms, replicating that seen in bulk casting. Experiments using an Fe-Al-0.1Ti alloy at rates of 1 and 50 °C/s from 1540°C are discussed. A significant retarding effect, due to segregation, on the liquid-solid transformation kinetics was observed for the 50 °C/s sample. Thermodynamic predictions, based on the Lever-Rule (ThermoCalc) and back diffusion via the Clyne-Kurz model, have been used to predict the levels of segregation. The higher segregation expected at the faster cooling rate results in the formation of TiC in the liquid after approximately 80% solidification, whilst at the slower cooling rate TiC is only predicted to form in the liquid after approximately 93% solidification. The predictions have been supported with optical analysis of the resultant TiC precipitate shape, distribution and morpholog

The Benefits of SWIR Imagery for Archaeological Landscape Analysis: A Case Study from Easter Island (Rapa Nui), Chile

The use of multispectral imagery is particularly effective for mapping the archaeological record of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) due to the island’s lack of vegetation and exposed surficial lithic features. In 2010, Flaws demonstrated that near-infrared (NIR) imagery can be used to identify “lithic mulch” gardens, areas of cultivation that are enhanced through the prehistoric addition of broken bedrock. Here, we evaluate newly available, high-resolution short-wave infrared (SWIR) imagery for its potential to provide additional resolution and discrimination in mapping “lithic mulch” features.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters/1002/thumbnail.jp

Near net shape casting : is it possible to cast too thin?

With increased efforts across the steel industry to produce steel in more economical ways, interest in near net shape casting has increased. Although much has been reported on the production of exotic alloys via these methods, to make the investment in new casting equipment, capability to produce current high value steels by these methods would derisk the capital expenditure. This study assesses the production of a dual phase steel (DP800) by belt casting and compared to that of conventional continuous casting. Although a drop in yield and tensile strength was seen in the belt cast-produced material, the increased elongation allowed for a comparable/improved UTS × elongation factor. A combination of in situ dendrite measurements, thermal modeling, and lab-scale belt casting has allowed insight into the relationship between cast thickness and final band spacing. The inherent lack of deformation of near net shape casting results in coarser band spacing and is not accounted for by the refinement of the secondary arm spacing caused by the faster solidification rates. This limits the strength achievable for a given martensite volume fraction. This has been predicted across the full range of casting thicknesses (1 to 230 mm) and good agreement has been shown with experimental results