Desalination Concentrate Disposal: Ecological Effects and Sustainable Solutions

Freshwater availability is a growing global concern, and desalination is often presented as the solution, but from this important technology comes issues of toxic waste. Ecosystems are delicate areas that contain species adapted to that specific location, and any chemical or physical changes can disrupt the fitness of species. The concentrate byproduct waste from desalination plants is toxic to species if the concentrate is not compatible with the receiving water body. A critical review of scientific articles, industry-leading books, conversations with industry experts, and information from the American Membrane Technology Association conference was used to analyze the current knowledge. Species health and environmental conditions are affected by chemical changes, such as an increase in salinity levels, which may be lethal or detrimental to growth. Desalination process types determine different chemical concentrations and physical characteristics, and depending on the receiving water body, the concentrate needs alteration to be compatible with the receiving water body. Solutions vary by location, but possibilities include beneficial ecological options that restore habitat water volume, economic benefits that use the concentrate, and technical changes that blend the concentrate more effectively in surface water outfalls. Identifying the potential ecological issues from concentrate waste and developing sustainable practices before harm is caused will protect valuable ecosystems that connect all life on earth

Black writing in Britain, 1770-1830

This thesis examines the lives and works of six black authors whose writings were published in Britain between 1770 and 1830: Ukawsaw Gronniosaw, Ignatius Sancho, Ottobah Cugoano, Boston King, John Jea and Robert Wedderburn. It challenges the existing paradigm of understanding these authors exclusively or primarily through the lenses of slavery and ethnicity. It demonstrates that these authors did not all share a single homogenous view of how, or even if, the slave trade and slavery should be abolished, and that they did not limit their attentions to the progress of abolitionism. Rather, they embraced a broad range of interests, from evangelical and missionary concerns to domestic political reform. These six black authors were each influenced by social, confessional and political networks, characterised by correspondence, friendship and patronage. Gronniosaw was part of an evangelical Calvinist network; Sancho corresponded with a network of libertine young men; Cugoano was a leading figure in London’s black radical networks; King was deeply influenced by Thomas Coke’s Methodist network based at Kingswood School, near Bristol; Jea’s discourse was suited to local Wesleyan networks in Lancashire and Hampshire; and Wedderburn was a key member of London’s ultraradical underworld. An investigation into the individuals and groups comprising each of these networks of influence serves not only to establish the authors' output within a broader historical context, but also enables a fresh perspective from which to launch new critical readings. This ultimately facilitates a revaluation of each author's individual contribution to the specific debates and discourses in which they participated, as well as their collective and several contributions to the British antislavery movements of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries

Creation of a strontium microtrap: Towards a spin-squeezed atomic clock

This thesis details the development of the pre-requisite experimental tools to create a proof-of-principle spin-squeezed atomic clock based upon an array of individual strontium atoms using Rydberg-dressed interactions. We experimentally and theoretically study Rydberg-dressing in a strontium narrow-line MOT, demonstrating that it is possible to coherently admix a Rydberg state into the narrow intercombination transitions of strontium. This work is based upon a quantitative semi-classical Monte-Carlo model of a strontium narrow-line MOT, where the combination of a quantum treatment of the light scattering process with a Monte-Carlo simulation of the atomic motion leads to a quantitative description of the spatial, thermal and temporal dynamics of the narrow-line MOT. By performing calculations of the dynamic polarisability of all the states relevant to laser cooling strontium, we have designed and constructed a new experimental apparatus to facilitate the creation of a microtrap of strontium. We observe and characterise the frst known microtrap of strontium and outline the next steps towards the creation of an array of single atoms. Due to the creation of Rydberg atoms in the strontium microtrap, understanding ionisation and interaction mechanisms may be of signifcant importance. We therefore study Rydberg ionisation mechanisms in a thermal beam of strontium atoms using simultaneous measurements of Rydberg EIT and spontaneously created ions or electrons. By connecting the optical and electrical signals using the optical Bloch equations, we are able to determine the dominant ionisation mechanisms of Rydberg atoms in the thermal beam. We also report the frst observations of optical and electrical bistability, which may shed further light onto the origin of bistability in atom vapours

Adam Smith on Money, Mercantilism and the System of Natural Liberty

Adam Smith’s theory of money played a key role in his development of one of the conclusions for which he is most famous today: the superiority of the system of natural liberty to mercantilism. This essay examines the part played by money in this argument, and specifically Smith’s theory of money’s origins and evolution and its relevance to his theory of natural liberty. The essay goes on to show how his position contributes to his critique of mercantilism and other proto-monetary policies as illustrative of his wider objection to interventionism, in conjunction with his understanding of the ‘science of the legislator’ in promoting the realisation of the system of natural liberty

Absolute absorption on the potassium D lines: theory and experiment

We present a detailed study of the absolute Doppler-broadened absorption of a probe beam scanned across the potassium D lines in a thermal vapour. Spectra using a weak probe were measured on the 4S $\to$ 4P transition and compared to the theoretical model of the electric susceptibility detailed by Zentile et al (2015 Comput. Phys. Commun. 189 162–74) in the code named ElecSus. Comparisons were also made on the 4S $\to$ 5P transition with an adapted version of ElecSus. This is the first experimental test of ElecSus on an atom with a ground state hyperfine splitting smaller than that of the Doppler width. An excellent agreement was found between ElecSus and experimental measurements at a variety of temperatures with rms errors $\sim {10}^{-3}$. We have also demonstrated the use of ElecSus as an atomic vapour thermometry tool, and present a possible new measurement technique of transition decay rates which we predict to have a precision of ~$3\;\mathrm{kHz}$

Preferences of Hungarian consumers for quality, access and price attributes of health care services — result of a discrete choice experiment

In 2010, a household survey was carried out in Hungary among 1037 respondents to study consumer preferences and willingness to pay for health care services. In this paper, we use the data from the discrete choice experiments included in the survey, to elicit the preferences of health care consumers about the choice of health care providers. Regression analysis is used to estimate the effect of the improvement of service attributes (quality, access, and price) on patients’ choice, as well as the differences among the socio-demographic groups. We also estimate the marginal willingness to pay for the improvement in attribute levels by calculating marginal rates of substitution. The results show that respondents from a village or the capital, with low education and bad health status are more driven by the changes in the price attribute when choosing between health care providers. Respondents value the good skills and reputation of the physician and the attitude of the personnel most, followed by modern equipment and maintenance of the office/hospital. Access attributes (travelling and waiting time) are less important. The method of discrete choice experiment is useful to reveal patients’ preferences, and might support the development of an evidence-based and sustainable health policy on patient payments

Nitrogen-Doped Starbons® : Methodology Development and Carbon Dioxide Capture Capability

Five nitrogen sources (glycine, β-alanine, urea, melamine and nicotinamide) and three heating methods (thermal, monomodal microwave and multimodal microwave) are used to prepare nitrogen-doped Starbons® derived from starch. The materials are initially produced at 250–300 oC (SNx300y), then heated in vacuo to 800 oC to produce nitrogen-doped SNx800y’s. Melamine gives the highest nitrogen incorporation without destroying the Starbon® pore structure and the microwave heating methods give higher nitrogen incorporations than thermal heating. The carbon dioxide adsorption capacities of the nitrogen-doped Starbons® determined gravimetrically, in many cases exceed those of S300 and S800. The carbon dioxide, nitrogen and methane adsorption isotherms of the most promising materials are measured volumetrically. Most of the nitrogen-doped materials show higher carbon dioxide adsorption capacities than S800, but lower methane and nitrogen adsorption capacities. As a result, the nitrogen-doped Starbons® exhibit significantly enhanced carbon dioxide versus nitrogen and methane versus nitrogen selectivities compared to S800

Sensitivity to scale of willingness-to-pay within the context of menorrhagia

Objectives: Willingness-to-pay (WTP) provides a broad assessment of well-being, capturing benefits beyond health. However, the validity of the approach has been questioned and the evidence relating to the sensitivity of WTP to changes in health status is mixed. Using menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding) as a case study, this exploratory study assesses the sensitivity to scale of WTP to change in health status as measured by a condition-specific measure, MMAS, which includes both health and non-health benefits. The relationship between EQ-5D and change in health status is also assessed. Methods: Baseline EQ-5D and MMAS values were collected from women taking part in a randomized controlled trial for pharmaceutical treatment of menorrhagia. Following treatment, these measures were administered along with a WTP exercise. The relationship between the measures was assessed using Spearman's correlation analysis, and the sensitivity to scale of WTP was measured by identifying differences in WTP alongside differences in MMAS and EQ5D values. Results: Our exploratory findings indicated that WTP, and not EQ-5D, was significantly positively correlated with change in MMAS, providing some evidence for convergent validity. These findings suggest that WTP is capturing the non-health benefits within the MMAS measure. Mean WTP also increased with percentage improvements in MMAS, suggesting sensitivity to scale. Conclusion: When compared to quality of life measured using the condition-specific MMAS measure, the convergent validity and sensitivity to scale of WTP is indicated. The findings suggest that WTP is more sensitive to change in MMAS, than with EQ-5D