An Economic Analysis of Landfill Costs to Demonstrate the Economies of Size and Determine the Feasibility of a Community Owned Landfill in Rural Oklahoma

New regulations have impacted landfill costs and changed solid waste management solutions. Communities must now decide between continued landfill operations and long-term uncertainties associated with contracted services. Preliminary cost analysis addresses these changes and demonstrates economies of size that make regional facilities more feasible than the once popular city-owned landfillsEnvironmental Economics and Policy,

Ammonia in positively charged pre-nucleation clusters: a quantum-chemical study and atmospheric implications

The quantum-chemical treatment of pre-nucleation clusters consisting of atmospheric nucleation precursors is critically important for the understanding of the molecular nature of atmospheric nucleation. In the present study, the influence of ammonia on the thermochemical stability of positively charged pre-nucleation clusters has been studied using the Density Functional Theory (DFT). The formation of binary (NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>)(H<sub>2</sub>O)<sub><i>n</i></sub> and ternary (NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>)(H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>)(H<sub>2</sub>O)<sub><i>n</i></sub> ionic clusters and the conversion of (H<sub>3</sub>O<sup>+</sup>)(H<sub>2</sub>O)<sub><i>n</i>−1</sub> into (NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>)(H<sub>2</sub>O)<sub><i>n</i></sub> and (H<sub>3</sub>O<sup>+</sup>) (H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>)(H<sub>2</sub>O)<sub><i>n</i>−1</sub> into (NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>)(H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>)(H<sub>2</sub>O)<sub><i>n</i></sub> have been investigated. The thermochemical analysis carried out in the present study shows both (H<sub>3</sub>O<sup>+</sup>)(H<sub>2</sub>O)<sub><i>n</i>−1</sub>→(NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>) (H<sub>2</sub>O)<sub><i>n</i></sub> and (H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>)(H<sub>3</sub>O<sup>+</sup>)(H<sub>2</sub>O)<sub><i>n</i>−1</sub>→(NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>)(H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>) (H<sub>2</sub>O)<sub><i>n</i></sub> transformations to be favorable thermodynamically and gives us a clear indication of the important role of ammonia in the conversion of positively charged clusters containing hydronium (H<sub>3</sub>O<sup>+</sup>) into those containing protonated ammonia. Under typical continental boundary layer condition, a large fraction of small positive ions may contain ammonia, but most of neutral and negative hydrated sulfuric acid monomers do not contain ammonia. In term of absolute concentrations, around 1000 cm<sup>−3</sup> out of 10<sup>7</sup> cm<sup>−3</sup> of sulfuric acid momoners contain ammonia. (NH<sub>4</sub>)<sup>+</sup>(H<sub>2</sub>O)<sub><i>n</i></sub> clusters appear to dominate the concentrations of small positive ions. Because of the weak affinity of sulfuric acid molecules to (H<sub>3</sub>O<sup>+</sup>)(H<sub>2</sub>O)<sub><i>n</i></sub> and (NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>)(H<sub>2</sub>O)<sub><i>n</i></sub> ions (<i>n</i>≤6), the concentrations of both ammoniated and un-ammoniated sulfuric acid water proton clusters are quite low. The atmospheric implications of the obtained results are discussed

The Nature of Environmental Quality in the Workplace: A Johnson Controls Institute Position Paper

As current research literature on workplace information grows exponentially, it often serves to hinder the larger goal of integrating our efforts into the creation of good workplaces. This monograph argues for a positive model of what the workplace should be, a set of goals, and criteria that can guide the innumerable decisions which go into the creation or remodeling of workplaces.https://dc.uwm.edu/caupr_mono/1043/thumbnail.jp

Students as neighbors: utilizing dialogue and deliberation to manage town-gown tensions

The integration of the university and its students into the broader Harrisonburg community has promoted increased interaction amongst JMU students, JMU faculty and staff, and community members. Navigating this complex relationship can be challenging and, in recent years, this relationship has become increasingly strained. The following research seeks to cultivate processes that aid in its improvement. The research finds that utilizing dialogue and deliberation as an approach to designing public process is a promising approach to mending and maintaining the relationship between JMU students and the broader Harrisonburg community, as well as to addressing town-gown tension at large. The research also employs a unique, flexible, methodology to allow for ongoing learning in developing a multi-phased, responsive process that helps participants move from understanding to finding sustainable solutions. The research offers insights into how information and perceptions that emerge in dialogic conversation can be used to design processes that transition into collaborative solutions for town-gown tensions

The Acute Physiological Responses of Eccentric Cycling During the Recovery Periods of a High Intensity Concentric Cycling Interval Session

Eccentric and concentric exercise is associated with disparate acute and chronic responses. We uniquely interspersed workload equivalent eccentric cycling during each recovery period of a high intensity interval training (HIIT) cycling trial to determine acute cardiopulmonary, thermal and psycho-physiological responses. Twelve males [age 28 years (SD 6), peak oxygen consumption 48 mL ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ min-1 (SD 6)] completed two high intensity interval cycling trials [4 x 5 min, 60% peak power output (PPO)] separated by 7-10 days. The CONR trial required participants to cycle concentrically during each recovery period (5 min, 30% PPO). The ECCR trial modified the recovery to be eccentric cycling (5 min, 60% PPO). High intensity workload (CONR: 187 ± 17; ECCR: 187 ± 21 W), oxygen consumption (CONR: 2.55 ± 0.17; ECCR: 2.68 ± 0.20 L ⋅ min-1), heart rate (CONR: 165 ± 7; ECCR: 171 ± 10 beats ⋅ min-1) and RPE legs (CONR: 15 ± 3; ECCR: 15 ± 3) were equivalent between trials. Eccentric cycling recovery significantly increased external workload (CONR: 93 ± 18; ECCR: 196 ± 24 W, P \u3c 0.01) yet lowered oxygen consumption (CONR: 1.51 ± 0.18; ECCR: 1.20 ± 0.20 L ⋅ min-1, P \u3c 0.05) while heart rate (CONR: 132 ± 13; ECCR: 137 ± 12 beats ⋅ min-1) and RPE of the legs (CONR: 11 ± 7; ECCR: 12 ± 7) remained equivalent. There was no significant difference in the aural temperature between the trials (ECCR: 37.3 ± 0.1°C; CONR: 37.4 ± 0.1°C, P \u3e 0.05), yet during recovery periods mean skin temperature was significantly elevated in the ECCR (ECCR: 33.9 ± 0.2°C; CONR: 33.3 ± 0.2°C, P \u3c 0.05). Participants preferred ECCR (10/12) and rated the ECCR as more achievable (82.8 ± 11.4 mm) than CONR (79.4 ± 15.9 mm, P \u3c 0.01). In conclusion, eccentric cycling during the recovery period of a HIIT training session, offers a novel approach to concurrent training methodology. The unique cardiopulmonary and skeletal muscle responses facilitate the achievement of both training stimuli within a single exercise bout

Initial Results from On-Orbit Testing of the Fram Memory Test Experiment on the Fastsat Micro-Satellite

The Memory Test Experiment is a space test of a ferroelectric memory device on a low Earth orbit satellite that launched in November 2010. The memory device being tested is a commercial Ramtron Inc. 512K memory device. The circuit was designed into the satellite avionics and is not used to control the satellite. The test consists of writing and reading data with the ferroelectric based memory device. Any errors are detected and are stored on board the satellite. The data is sent to the ground through telemetry once a day. Analysis of the data can determine the kind of error that was found and will lead to a better understanding of the effects of space radiation on memory systems. The test is one of the first flight demonstrations of ferroelectric memory in a near polar orbit which allows testing in a varied radiation environment. The initial data from the test is presented. This paper details the goals and purpose of this experiment as well as the development process. The process for analyzing the data to gain the maximum understanding of the performance of the ferroelectric memory device is detailed