Managing Alaska Soils

This publication is for the gardener who wants to gain a more thorough understanding of soil basics, including soil components, texture, structure, water permeability and chemistry. There is also information on soil fertility and plant nutrients.This publication replaces the following Extension publications: Soil Fundamentals by C.L. Johnson, former Extension Assistant, Palmer Research Station, University of Alaska Fairbanks and Soil Fertility Basics and Soil Sampling and Analysis by J.L. Walworth, former Soil Scientist, Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Palmer Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Factors to Consider in Selecting a Soil Testing Lab

This factsheet provides guidelines for selecting which tests one should use and finding soil testing laboratories that perform those tests. It is a fantastic tool for Alaskans as it highlights available options for tests, types of tests and testing facilities. Laboratory contact information is included.This publication was prepared by Peter Bierman and Thomas R. Jahns, former Extension Faculty, Agriculture and Horticulture

Geology of the Transverse Range Province, Southern California

The Transverse Range province of southern California is an elongate geomorphic and structural unit that trends essentially east-west across parts of Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties (pl. 4). Its name reflects its transverse orientation with respect to the adjacent provinces, especially the Coast Ranges and Sierra Nevada to the north and the Peninsular Ranges to the south. This distinctive province is geologically very complex, and comprises chains of mountains and hills that are flanked or separated by narrow to moderately broad valleys. These features, as well as most of their structural elements, lie athwart the general northwest-southeast grain of southern California, and several of them are responsible for the anomalous east-west alignment of the coast from Point Conception to the Santa Barbara area, and along the north side of Santa Monica Bay

Geology of the Transverse Range Province, Southern California

The Transverse Range province of southern California is an elongate geomorphic and structural unit that trends essentially east-west across parts of Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties (pl. 4). Its name reflects its transverse orientation with respect to the adjacent provinces, especially the Coast Ranges and Sierra Nevada to the north and the Peninsular Ranges to the south. This distinctive province is geologically very complex, and comprises chains of mountains and hills that are flanked or separated by narrow to moderately broad valleys. These features, as well as most of their structural elements, lie athwart the general northwest-southeast grain of southern California, and several of them are responsible for the anomalous east-west alignment of the coast from Point Conception to the Santa Barbara area, and along the north side of Santa Monica Bay

Final Report on Control Algorithm to Improve the Partial-Load Efficiency of Surface PM Machines with Fractional-Slot Concentrated Windings

Surface permanent magnet (SPM) synchronous machines using fractional-slot concentrated windings are being investigated as candidates for high-performance traction machines for automotive electric propulsion systems. It has been shown analytically and experimentally that such designs can achieve very wide constant-power speed ratios (CPSR) [1,2]. This work has shown that machines of this type are capable of achieving very low cogging torque amplitudes as well as significantly increasing the machine power density [3-5] compared to SPM machines using conventional distributed windings. High efficiency can be achieved in this class of SPM machine by making special efforts to suppress the eddy-current losses in the magnets [6-8], accompanied by efforts to minimize the iron losses in the rotor and stator cores. Considerable attention has traditionally been devoted to maximizing the full-load efficiency of traction machines at their rated operating points and along their maximum-power vs. speed envelopes for higher speeds [9,10]. For example, on-line control approaches have been presented for maximizing the full-load efficiency of PM synchronous machines, including the use of negative d-axis stator current to reduce the core losses [11,12]. However, another important performance specification for electric traction applications is the machine's efficiency at partial loads. Partial-load efficiency is particularly important if the target traction application requires long periods of cruising operation at light loads that are significantly lower than the maximum drive capabilities. While the design of the machine itself is clearly important, investigation has shown that this is a case where the choice of the control algorithm plays a critical role in determining the maximum partial-load efficiency that the machine actually achieves in the traction drive system. There is no evidence that this important topic has been addressed for this type of SPM machine by any other authors. This topic takes on even greater significance for fractional-slot concentrated-winding SPM machine designs. In particular, maximizing the torque/power density of this class of SPM machines typically leads to machine designs with high numbers of poles. The resulting high electrical frequencies can easily result in high stator core losses unless special care is taken during the machine design process. The purpose of this report is to discuss a modified vector control algorithm for a fractional-slot concentrated winding SPM machine that has been developed to maximize the machine's partial-load efficiency over a wide range of operating conditions. For purposes of this discussion, a 55 kW (peak) SPM machine designed to meet requirements established in the US FreedomCar program [13] is used as the basis for demonstrating the proposed technique. A combination of closed-form analysis [14] and finite element analysis (FEA) is used during this investigation

The declining prevalence of overweight among Russian children: Income, diet, and physical activity behavior changes

The aim of this study is to examine the relationships among income, diet, physical activity behaviors and overweight among Russian children during a period of economic upheaval. Subjects include 2151 schoolchildren aged 7-13 derived from cross-sectional waves of the Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Surveys in 1995 and in 2002. Diet was assessed by 24-h recall and physical activity (hrs/week) and household income by parental questionnaire. Hours spent in vigorous activities were low (1.0-1.5 hrs/week), and time spent in sedentary behaviors increased from 31 to 37 hrs/week between 1995 and 2002. In 1995 there was a direct relationship of income to energy and fat intake, and time spent in vigorous activity, and an inverse relationship of income to hrs/wk spent in moderate activities (such as walking to school). The effect of having low income parents was less in 2002 than in 1995. Overweight prevalence did not differ significantly by income in either year, but there was a significant decline in overweight among high income children. Only hours spent in moderate physical activity was moderately protective against overweight. Income disparities do not explain trends in overweight among Russian children

Integralni pristup sustavima energetske elektronike

Today\u27s power electronics systems are typically manufactured using non-standard parts, resulting in labor-intensive manufacturing processes, increased cost and poor reliability. As a possible way to overcome these problems, this paper discusses an integrated approach to design and manufacture power electronics systems to improve performance, reliability and cost effectiveness. Addressed in the paper are the technologies being developed for integration of both power supplies and motor drives. These technologies include the planar metalization to eliminate bonding wires, the integration of power passives, the integration of current sensors, the development of power devices to facilitate integration as well as to improve performance, and the integration of necessary CAD tools to address the multidisciplinary aspects of integrated systems. The development of Integrated Power Electronics Modules (IPEMs) is demonstrated for two applications: (1) 1 kW asymmetrical half-bridge DC-DC converter and (2) 1–3 kW motor drive for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC). Electrical and thermal design tradeoffs of IPEMs and related enabling technologies are described in the paper.Današnji sustavi energetske elektronike se obično proizvode iz nestandardnih dijelova. Posljedica toga je laboratorijska proizvodnja elektroničkih učinskih pretvarača, povećani troškovi i smanjena pouzdanost. Jedan od mogućih načina prevladavanja ovih poteškoća jest integralni pristup projektiranju i proizvodnji sustava energetske elektronike. Posebice se razmatraju tehnologije razvijene za integraciju učinskih krugova i motora. Ove tehnologije uključuju postupke planarne metalizacije za izbjegavanje žičanih vodova, integraciju pasivnih dijelova učinskih krugova, integraciju strujnih senzora, te razvoj takvih poluvodičkih komponenata koje olakšavaju integraciju i poboljšavaju karakteristike uređaja. Pri projektiranju, zbog multidisciplinarnih aspekata integriranih sustava, treba primijeniti nužne CAD alate. Razvoj integriranih modula elektroničkih učinskih pretvarača (engl. integrated power electronics modules, IPEM) ilustriran je na dvije primjene: (1) istosmjerni pretvarač snage 1 kW u asimetričnom polumosnom spoju i (2) elektromotorni pogon snage 1 . . . 3 kW za grijanje, ventilaciju i klimatizaciju (engl. heating, ventilation and air conditioning, HVAC). Na IPEM-u objašnjeni su projektantski i tehnološki kompromisi električkog i toplinskog projekta

Reduction of Radiation Dosage in Visualization of Paranasal Sinuses in Daily Routine

Background. Preoperative imaging of the nose and paranasal sinus is standard in otorhinolaryngology. Previous studies on phantoms demonstrated the potential for dose reduction of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) by varying the application parameters. Methodology. Based on previous studies, the standard protocol of paranasal sinus imaging by CBCT was altered. One hundred and fifty examinations using the old protocol (01/2010–01/2011, high dosage) and 150 examinations using the new protocol (09/2012–09/2013, low dosage) were evaluated and compared for the visibility of 17 anatomical structures, the Lund-Mackay Score, and technical parameters. Results. Alteration of the protocol resulted in a significant reduction in dosage (6.64 mGy versus 2.88 mGy). Both groups showed the same amount of pathology (Lund-Mackay Score: 4.95±3.79 versus 5.26±5.77; p=0.558). There was a significant better visibility of the anatomical structures (all visible = 1, nothing visible = 4) (results: 1.25 versus 1.17; p=0.001) in the low-dosage group. Conclusion. Despite a significant reduction in the applied dosage, reliable visualization of the bony anatomy of the anterior skull base is possible by CBCT. This demonstrates the need for the discussion of the required clinical imaging quality