Analysis and Observation of Decomposition of Immature Pigs in the Minnesota Winter/Early Spring

This study analyzes the multiple factors affecting the decomposition of pigs in the Minnesota Winter/Early Spring within the first twelve weeks postmortem. The winters in the Minnesota River Valley can vary in regard to weather patterns and temperature changes. Adding the variable of location and accessibility to the study creates a mix of important research conducted in a less populated area. Pig carcasses were used in lieu of human remains to allow the data to be as close to a real scenario as possible. One pig was placed next to a farm site and the other about a half of a mile away next to a river. The second pig was scavenged by animals two weeks into the 60 days and therefore was replaced a few days later with a larger pig. This experiment was conducted from late January to early April. Quantifying the taphonomic effects and changes that occurred was one of the main methods used to analyze the data. The decomposition results show a correlation between the presence of precipitation, dips in humidity, and temperature to a slower rate of decomposition. A significant feature of this thesis is the result that the pig placed in a less populated area next to a river exhibited more advanced decomposition due to animal scavenging. Another noteworthy feature is that insects did not make an appearance until the twelfth week of data collection in early April. According to these results, the freeze thaw cycle has an observable effect on the rate of decomposition; the level of accessibility for animals also figured significantly in the rate of decomposition seen in this study

Assessing the potential contribution of excess heat from biogas plants towards decarbonising German residential heating

This paper analyses the current technical potential for utilising excess heat from German biogas plants, in order to supply local settlements through district heating. Based on a survey of around 600 biogas plant operators, the fractions of excess heat in these plants are analysed. A heuristic is developed to match biogas plants (heat sources) with local settlements (sinks) in order to determine a least-cost district heating supply for residential buildings. Two criteria are employed, namely the CO2 abatement costs and the payback period, which represent the macro- and microeconomic perspectives respectively. Based on the survey, a mean fraction of 40% excess heat is determined, which is in agreement with other empirical studies. Extrapolating this fraction to the German biogas plant stock leads to technically feasible CO2 savings of around 2.5 MtCO2/a. Employing the criteria of CO2 abatement costs and payback period yields about 2 MtCO2/a below CO2 abatement costs of 200 €/tCO2 and below a payback period of 9 years respectively. This represents about 0.25% of the total German CO2 emissions in 2016 or around 2.5% of all CO2 in residential buildings. If threshold values of 80 €/tCO2 and 5 years are employed, to reflect the German government’s suggested external cost of carbon and an expected payback period from an investor’s point of view respectively, the carbon reduction potential is about 0.5 MtCO2 and 0.75 MtCO2 respectively. These potentials are concentrated in around 3,500 of 11,400 municipalities, where district heating from biogas plants could reduce CO2 emissions per capita by an average of 250 kgCO_2/a and cover 12% of the total heating demand

Energiewende im Unternehmen

Die Energiewende in den Unternehmen wird bestimmt von gesetzlichen Vorgaben, vom „Business Case“ und der persönlichen Werthaltung einzelner Unternehmer/innen. Wir haben untersucht, ob und wie auch ganz normale Mitarbeiter/innen, Initiativen für die Energiewende am Arbeitsplatz entwickel

Revisiting Reflection in HCI: Four Design Resources for Technologies that Support Reflection

Reflection is a commonly addressed design goal in commercial systems and in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) research. Yet, it is still unclear what tools are at the disposal of designers who want to build systems that support reflection. Understanding the design space of reflection support systems and the interaction techniques that can foster reflection is necessary to enable building technologies that contribute to the users\u27 well-being. In order to gain additional insight into how interactive artefacts foster reflection, we investigated past research prototypes and reflection-supporting smartphone applications (apps). Through a structured literature review and an analysis of app reviews, we constructed four design resources for reflection: temporal perspective, conversation, comparison and discovery. We also identified design patterns in past digital artefacts that implement the resources. Our work constitutes intermediate-level knowledge that is intended to inspire future technologies that better support reflection

FY 1995 remedial investigation work plan for Waste Area Grouping 2 at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Field activities to support the remedial investigation (RI) of Waste Area Grouping (WAG) 2 at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) include characterization of the nature and extent of contamination in WAG 2, specifically to support risk-based remediation decisions. WAG 2 is the major drainage system downgradient of other WAGs containing significant sources of contamination at ORNL. The RI of WAG 2 is developed in three phases: Phase 1, initial scoping characterization to determine the need for early action; Phase 2, interim activities during remediation of upgradient WAGs to evaluate potential changes in the contamination status of WAG 2 that would necessitate reevaluation of the need for early action; and Phase 3, completion of the RI process following remediation of upslope WAGs. Specifically, Phase 2 activities are required to track key areas to determine if changes have occurred in WAG 2 that would require (1) interim remedial action to protect human health and the environment or (2) changes in remedial action plans and schedules for WAG2 because of changing contaminant release patterns in upslope WAGs or because of the effects of interim remedial or removal actions in other WAGs. This report defines activities to be conducted in FY 1995 for completion of the Phase 1 RI and initiation of limited Phase 2 field work

Summary review of the chemical characterization of liquid and sludge contained in the Old Hydrofracture tanks, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

This report presents analytical data developed from samples collected from the five inactive tanks located at the Old Hydrofracture Facility (OHF) at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The samples were collected during December 1995 and January 1996. The purpose of the sampling and analysis project was (1) to determine whether the tank contents meet ORNL waste acceptance criteria, as specified in the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Liquid Waste Treatment Systems, Waste Evaluation Criteria; (2) to determine various physical properties of the tank contents that would affect the design of a sludge mobilization system; and (3) to gather information to support a baseline risk assessment. The report focuses on the analytical results used to evaluate the tank contents with regard to nuclear criticality safety requirements and to regulatory waste characterization

Energieautarkie: Definitionen, Für- bzw. Gegenargumente, und entstehende Forschungsbedarfe

Ambitionierte europäische und nationale Zielvorgaben in der Energiepolitik führen in den letzten Jahren zu einem Umbruch der Energiewirtschaft, der vor allem durch den Ausbau von erneuerbaren Energien geprägt ist. Die Charakteristika dieser Energieträger bedingen, dass ihre Erschließung wenigstens teilweise dezentral erfolgen muss. Der Ausbau der erneuerbaren Energien ist somit stark lokal und regional geprägt, wie z.B. in Deutschland durch die hohe Investition privater Personen in erneuerbare Energieanlagen und der Trend der Bürgerenergie deutlich wird. Das Letztgenannte resultiert aus diversen sozioökonomischen Motivationen wie dem Bedürfnis, eine aktive Rolle in der Energieversorgung zu übernehmen und sich unabhängiger von zentralen Strukturen zu machen. Der Begriff der Energieautarkie hat sich in diesem Kontext etabliert und Forschungsfragen aufgeworfen, von denen dieser Beitrag einigen nachgeht. Die Ziele dieses Artikels sind, die sozialen und ökonomischen Motive der Akteure sowie die technischen Für- und Gegenargumente für Energieautarkie zu identifizieren und zu hinterfragen. Dabei werden Definitionen und Bewertungsmethoden diskutiert und konkrete Forschungsbedarfe abgeleitet. Die Auswertung zeigt einen mangelnden Konsens in der Literatur auf, weswegen eine Arbeitsdefinition von Energieautarkie vorgeschlagen wird. Unter den sozialen Motivationen und Voraussetzungen für Energieautarkie werden diverse Aspekte thematisiert und es zeigt sich, dass viele Konsumenten bereit sind, mehr für lokale Energie zu bezahlen. Die techno-ökonomischen Aspekte sind ausschlaggebend: der Grad der möglichen Energieautarkie ist durch die technischen Gegebenheiten bestimmt, insbesondere müssen ausreichende erneuerbare Energien-Potenziale vorhanden sein. Anderseits gibt es drei wesentliche technische Gegenargumente für die Energieautarkie, nämlich der Größendegressionseffekt, der Glättungseffekt und die Versorgungssicherheit. Forschungsbedarfe werden in mehreren Bereichen identifiziert. Empirische Forschung zu der Frage der Übertragbarkeit von Energieautarkie-Ansätzen und standardisierte Rahmenwerke sind notwendig, um die Vergleichbarkeit zwischen und Übertragbarkeit von diversen Projekten zu ermöglichen. Vor allem bei der Erschließung von nachfrageseitigen Potenzialen zur Lastverschiebung und Energieeffizienz scheinen die hier diskutierten Energieautarkieprojekte noch nicht so weit zu sein. Die Eignung und das Zusammenspiel zwischen unterschiedlichen Kommunen sowie die Frage nach dem optimalen Aggregationsgrad sind noch zu klären. Schließlich ergibt sich ein Forschungsbedarf für Bewertungsmethoden und Indikatoren, um Energieautarkie auf der Ebene von einzelnen Kommunen und ihre Auswirkungen auf das übergeordnete Energiesystem flächendeckend zu bewerten