An evaluation of the Goddard Space Flight Center Library

The character and degree of coincidence between the current and future missions, programs, and projects of the Goddard Space Flight Center and the current and future collection, services, and facilities of its library were determined from structured interviews and discussions with various classes of facility personnel. In addition to the tabulation and interpretation of the data from the structured interview survey, five types of statistical analyses were performed to corroborate (or contradict) the survey results and to produce useful information not readily attainable through survey material. Conclusions reached regarding compatability between needs and holdings, services and buildings, library hours of operation, methods of early detection and anticipation of changing holdings requirements, and the impact of near future programs are presented along with a list of statistics needing collection, organization, and interpretation on a continuing or longitudinal basis

Methane emissions inventory verification in southern California

Methane (CH4) and carbon monoxide (CO) mixing ratios were measured at an air quality monitoring station near the Mt. Wilson (MW) Observatory in southern California starting in the spring of 2007. Diurnal variation and mixing ratio correlation (R2 = 0.81) were observed. The correlation results observed agree with previous aircraft measurements collected over the greater Los Angeles (LA) metropolitan area. The consistent agreement between CH4 and CO indicates these gases are well-mixed before reaching the sampling site and the emission source contributions of both compounds are reasonably constant. Since CH4 and CO are considered non-reactive on the time scale of dispersion within the LA urban area and their emission sources are likely to be similarly distributed (e.g., associated with human activities) they are subject to similar scales of atmospheric transport and dilution. This behavior allows the relationship of CH4 and CO to be applied for estimation of CH4 emissions using well-documented CO emissions. Applying this relationship a "top-down" CH4 inventory was calculated for LA County based on the measurements observed at MW and compared with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) "bottom-up" CH4 emissions inventory based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recommended methodologies. The "top-down" CH4 emissions inventory is approximately one-third greater than CARB's "bottom-up" inventory for LA County. Considering the uncertainties in both methodologies, the different CH4 emissions inventory approaches are in good agreement, although some under and/or uninventoried CH4 sources may exist

Perceived Damage by Elk in the Arkansas Ozarks

Wildlife managers in Arkansas are faced with managing a growing population of Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus neloni) that has extended its range to incorporate private lands near the Buffalo National River (BNR) in northcentral Arkansas. This range expansion has created conflicts between private landowners and wildlife management personnel. To document the extent of damage and assess attitudes of landowners with elk on their land, interviews were conducted with landowners who contacted us or the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission about problems with elk. A survey also was created and sent to landowners who live near the BNR in Boone and Newton counties and who may have elk on their land. Ten of 18 respondents with elk on their land reported having a problem with nuisance activity. Landowners indicated that most damage was to pastures, hay crops, and food plots. Damage appeared to occur more often in summer, when elk home ranges were smallest, than in other seasons. Landowners incurring damage from elk had a strong negative opinion. Continued research into effective management practices should be conducted to properly manage this growing population of elk and reduce conflicts between elk and Arkansas landowners

On-Board Sensor-Based NO x Emissions from Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles

Real-world nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions were estimated using on-board sensor readings from 72 heavy-duty diesel vehicles (HDDVs) equipped with a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system in California. The results showed that there were large differences between in-use and certification NOx emissions, with 12 HDDVs emitting more than three times the standard during hot-running and idling operations in the real world. The overall NOx conversion efficiencies of the SCR system on many vehicles were well below the 90% threshold that is expected for an efficient SCR system, even when the SCR system was above the optimum operating temperature threshold of 250 °C. This could potentially be associated with SCR catalyst deterioration on some engines. The Not-to-Exceed (NTE) requirements currently used by the heavy-duty in-use compliance program were evaluated using on-board NOx sensor data. Valid NTE events covered only 4.2–16.4% of the engine operation and 6.6–34.6% of the estimated NOx emissions. This work shows that low cost on-board NOx sensors are a convenient tool to monitor in-use NOx emissions in real-time, evaluate the SCR system performance, and identify vehicle operating modes with high NOx emissions. This information can inform certification and compliance programs to ensure low in-use NOx emissions

Bioorthogonal fluorescent labels: a review on combined forces

This review ventures to summarize the latest developments in bioorthogonal fluorescent imaging labels with a special focus on bioimaging applications. We briefly summarize the most preferred means of bioorthogonal tagging schemes for the labeling of specific biomolecular structures. The review is structured by the type of the fluorescent labels that can address the problems that most commonly compromise fluorescent imaging techniques, i.e. the autofluorescence of biomolecules, the background fluorescence of unreacted reagents, and photobleaching. Thus, we present (i) far- red/near-infra-red emitting dyes, (ii) fluorogenic scaffolds, and (iii) nanoparticle-based signaling platforms

A Theoretical Study on a Reaction of Iron(III) Hydroxide with Boron Trichloride by Ab Initio Calculation

We investigate a reaction of boron trichloride (BCl3) with iron(III) hydroxide (Fe(OH)3) by ab initio quantum chemical calculation as a simple model for a reaction of iron impurities in BCl3 gas. We also examine a reaction with water. We find that compounds such as Fe(Cl)(OBCl2)2(OHBCl2) and Fe(Cl)2(OBCl2)(OHBCl2) are formed while producing HCl and reaction paths to them are revealed. We also analyze the stabilization mechanism of these paths using newly-developed interaction energy density derived from electronic stress tensor in the framework of the Regional DFT (Density Functional Theory) and Rigged QED (Quantum ElectroDynamics).Comment: 21 pages, 12 figure

The Layer 0 Inner Silicon Detector of the D0 Experiment

This paper describes the design, fabrication, installation and performance of the new inner layer called Layer 0 (L0) that was inserted in the existing Run IIa Silicon Micro-Strip Tracker (SMT) of the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. L0 provides tracking information from two layers of sensors, which are mounted with center lines at a radial distance of 16.1 mm and 17.6 mm respectively from the beam axis. The sensors and readout electronics are mounted on a specially designed and fabricated carbon fiber structure that includes cooling for sensor and readout electronics. The structure has a thin polyimide circuit bonded to it so that the circuit couples electrically to the carbon fiber allowing the support structure to be used both for detector grounding and a low impedance connection between the remotely mounted hybrids and the sensors.Comment: 28 pages, 9 figure

Indirect Education

Indirect Education discusses direct and indirect pedagogies and the complexities of these concepts within the field of education practice and research. It addresses the question of when it is most beneficial to be indirect with regard to teaching and educational research. The book offers an original approach to education in how it reasserts our right to a sense of ownership and agency in educational explorations. It argues that there should be space for indirect ways of teaching and communication when matters without clear answers and objectives enter the educational sphere. Bringing together a mix of empirical studies presented with a degree of storytelling, the book explores the literature of educational theory to make a novel and relatable argument for making space for indirectness in learning contexts. Putting forward a compelling case that is necessary for education in the difficult times that we are living in, the book will appeal to academics, researchers and students in the fields of educational theory, pedagogy, leadership studies and educational practice. The Open Access version of this book, available at www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license