127 research outputs found
New mining ventures in Venezuela and links to foreign capital
This thesis studies the discourse of governmental actors in resource-rich countries that base much of their economic structures on the extraction of natural resources. The goal of the study is to explore the links between foreign capital and government-led resource extraction ventures and understand what kind of a discourse is built around natural resource ventures and how governments represent these ventures as a viable model for âdevelopmentâ. The focus of this study is the case of the new Orinoco Mining Arch â project in Venezuela, established in 2016, that represents a new extractivist turn in the traditionally oil-based economy of the country. In this thesis the link between foreign capital and resource extraction is understood as fundamentally interconnected through the theoretical framework that positions extractivism as part of a developmentalist and neoliberal ontology.
The methodological approach of this thesis is that of Critical Discourse Analysis which is presented based on the poststructuralist views of Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe on discourse. Furthermore, Faircloughâs approach to Critical Discourse Analysis is used as a way to study and analysis of the research material through textual analysis, discursive practice and social practice. The data consists of three types of material that the Venezuelan governmental actors have published regarding the mining activities of the Orinoco Mining Arch: the opening speech by president NicolĂĄs Maduro at the event to officiate the AMO project, the communications and news articles related to this new project published by the countryâs Ministry of Mining and countryâs the National Development Plansâ sections that relate to mining.
This study shows that attempts to legitimize governmental mining ventures are carried through by building a public image of an ecologically sustainable, dynamic and sovereign mining industry that is deeply linked to the Chavist-nationalist imaginary, and intertwined with more subtle elements, including foreign capital, in the discourse. The analysis of the data found that this resource nationalist discourse, its origin and its features are currently reproducing a developmentalist based neo-extractivist narrative which praises âdevelopmentâ, considers resource extraction as necessary, and follows a neoliberal logic of accumulation of capital. Thus, despite of its apparent potential for conflict, foreign capital it is part of the developmentalist narrative that the governmental discourse creates. Its manifestation as neo-extractivism has an immense potential for destruction in the socio-ecological context
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Aqueduct Trail Network Development in Metro Boston
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) are collaborating with associated cities and towns to open up 40 + miles of existing and former aqueduct right-of-ways are available to be permitted for public access for the first time in the western suburbs of Boston. Four aqueducts are being considered for public access.
The first one-mile section along the Weston Aqueduct in Framingham opened to the public in October 2012. By eventually connecting these aqueducts with existing trail systems, we are ultimately creating a 50+ mile continuous greenway network, primarily using existing public land permitted at no cost to municipalities, requiring minimal investment, and creating a maintenance partnership between the MWRA and cities and towns.
The MWRA is working with each of the communities to issue public access permits. Each town will be able to conduct limited improvements to the right-of-way to allow for improved hiking, cycling, and dog-walking activities. A number of schools are adjacent or close to the aqueduct corridors and will provide car-free access for children to walk between school and home. Sections of these aqueduct corridors have been used as informal trails for a number of years. Under the new policy, public access activities will now be authorized and maintenance responsibilities will be split between the MWRA and municipalities.
MAPC is working with each of the communities to connect the disjointed aqueduct segments into a seamless, continuous, connected greenway network. Working through each townâs public process, MAPC is identifying the trail segments that will connect with existing regional rail trails, including the circumferential Bay Circuit Trail around Boston and numerous others. MAPC expects to complete an implementation plan in 2013 that identifies the proposed alignment of the completed aqueduct trail network system
Warm gas towards young stellar objects in Corona Australis - Herschel/PACS observations from the DIGIT key programme
The effects of external irradiation on the chemistry and physics in the
protostellar envelope around low-mass young stellar objects are poorly
understood. The Corona Australis star-forming region contains the R CrA dark
cloud, comprising several low-mass protostellar cores irradiated by an
intermediate-mass young star. We study the effects on the warm gas and dust in
a group of low-mass young stellar objects from the irradiation by the young
luminous Herbig Be star R CrA. Herschel/PACS far-infrared datacubes of two
low-mass star-forming regions in the R CrA dark cloud are presented. The
distribution of CO, OH, H2O, [C II], [O I], and continuum emission is
investigated. We have developed a deconvolution algorithm which we use to
deconvolve the maps, separating the point-source emission from the extended
emission. We also construct rotational diagrams of the molecular species. By
deconvolution of the Herschel data, we find large-scale (several thousand AU)
dust continuum and spectral line emission not associated with the point
sources. Similar rotational temperatures are found for the warm CO (
K), hot CO ( K), OH ( K), and H2O ( K) emission,
respectively, in the point sources and the extended emission. The rotational
temperatures are also similar to what is found in other more isolated cores.
The extended dust continuum emission is found in two ridges similar in extent
and temperature to molecular mm emission, indicative of external heating from
the Herbig Be star R CrA. Our results show that a nearby luminous star does not
increase the molecular excitation temperatures in the warm gas around a young
stellar object (YSO). However, the emission from photodissociation products of
H2O, such as OH and O, is enhanced in the warm gas associated with these
protostars and their surroundings compared to similar objects not suffering
from external irradiation.Comment: 37 pages, accepted for publication in A&
Using Videography to Quantify Landscape-Level Availability of Habitat for Grazers: An Example with Emperor Geese in Western Alaska
We present a videography approach to estimating large-scale availability of grazing lawns, an important food resource used by broods of emperor geese (Chen canagica) on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska. Sampling was conducted in 1999, 2003, and 2004 at six locations that encompassed ~40% of the North American population of breeding emperor geese. We conducted ground truthing in 2003 and 2004 to estimate how accurately grazing lawn was classified. Overall, classification accuracy for grazing lawn and non-grazing lawn habitat was greater than 91%. Availability of grazing lawns was stable among years, but varied both among and within locations. Some locations have up to three times as much available grazing lawn, which in combination with densities of geese, likely represents dramatic variation in per capita food availability. Our results suggest that videography is a useful way to sample quickly across a large region and accurately identify fine-scale habitats. We present its use for estimating the availability of a preferred food resource for emperor geese, but the method could be applied to many other cases.Nous prĂ©sentons une mĂ©thode vidĂ©ographique pour Ă©valuer, Ă grande Ă©chelle, la disponibilitĂ© des pĂąturages, une importante ressource alimentaire pour les couvĂ©es dâoies empereurs (Chen canagica) du delta Yukon-Kuskokwim, en Alaska. Des Ă©chantillonnages ont Ă©tĂ© effectuĂ©s en 1999, 2003 et 2004 Ă six emplacements visant environ 40 % de la population nord-amĂ©ricaine dâoies empereurs nicheuses. Nous avons rĂ©alisĂ© des vĂ©rifications au sol en 2003 et en 2004 dans le but dâestimer dans quelle mesure les pĂąturages Ă©taient bien classĂ©s. Dans lâensemble, lâexactitude du classement des habitats destinĂ©s au pĂąturage et de ceux qui ne sont pas destinĂ©s au pĂąturage dĂ©passait les 91 %. La disponibilitĂ© des pĂąturages Ă©tait stable au fil des ans, mais variait dâun emplacement Ă lâautre et au sein de ceux-ci. Certains emplacements ont trois fois plus de pĂąturages disponibles que dâautres. Cela, alliĂ© aux densitĂ©s dâoies, reprĂ©sente vraisemblablement des Ă©carts remarquables pour ce qui est de la disponibilitĂ© de nourriture par tĂȘte. Nos rĂ©sultats laissent supposer que la vidĂ©ographie reprĂ©sente une bonne maniĂšre de faire des Ă©chantillonnages rapides dans de grandes rĂ©gions et de repĂ©rer avec prĂ©vision les habitats Ă petite Ă©chelle. Nous prĂ©sentons lâemploi de cette mĂ©thode pour Ă©valuer la disponibilitĂ© dâune source alimentaire prĂ©fĂ©rĂ©e de lâoie empereur, mĂ©thode qui pourrait ĂȘtre employĂ©e dans bien dâautres cas
Unique thermodynamic relationships for ÎfHo and ÎfGo for crystalline inorganic salts. I, Predicting the possible existence and synthesis of Na2SO2 and Na2SeO2
The concept that equates oxidation and pressure has been successfully utilized in explaining the structural changes observed in the M2S subnets of M2SOx (x = 3, 4) compounds (M = Na, K) when compared with the structures (room- and high-pressure phases) of their parent M2S 'alloy' [Martinez-Cruz et al. (1994), J. Solid State Chem. 110, 397-398; Vegas (2000), Crystallogr. Rev. 7, 189-286; Vegas et al. (2002), Solid State Sci. 4, 1077-1081]. These structural changes suggest that if M2SO2 would exist, its cation array might well have an anti-CaF2 structure. On the other hand, in an analysis of the existing thermodynamic data for M2S, M2SO3 and M2SO4 we have identified, and report, a series of unique linear relationships between the known Delta H-f(o) and Delta(f)G(o) values of the alkali metal (M) sulfide (x = 0) and their oxyanion salts M2SOx (x = 3 and 4), and the similarly between M2S2 disulfide (x = 0) and disulfur oxyanion salts M2S2Ox (x = 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7) and the number of O atoms in their anions x. These linear relationships appear to be unique to sulfur compounds and their inherent simplicity permits us to interpolate thermochemical data (Delta H-f(o)) for as yet unprepared compounds, M2SO (x = 1) and M2SO2 (x = 2). The excellent linearity indicates the reliability of the interpolated data. Making use of the volume-based thermodynamics, VBT [Jenkins et al. (1999), Inorg. Chem. 38, 3609-3620], the values of the absolute entropies were estimated and from them, the standard Delta S-f(o) values, and then the Delta(f)G(o) values of the salts. A tentative proposal is made for the synthesis of Na2SO2 which involves bubbling SO2 through a solution of sodium in liquid ammonia. For this attractive thermodynamic route, we estimate Delta G(o) to be approximately -500 kJ mol(-1). However, examination of the stability of Na2SO2 raises doubts and Na2SeO2 emerges as a more attractive target material. Its synthesis is likely to be easier and it is stable to disproportionation into Na2S and Na2SeO4. Like Na2SO2, this compound is predicted to have an anti-CaF2 Na2Se subnet
Investigation of the deposition and emission of mercury in arctic snow during an atmospheric mercury depletion event
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/94701/1/jgrd14741.pd
A Genome-Wide Pharmacogenetic Study of Growth Hormone Responsiveness
Individual patients vary in their response to growth hormone (GH). No large-scale genome-wide studies have looked for genetic predictors of GH responsiveness. To identify genetic variants associated with GH responsiveness. Genome-wide association study (GWAS). Cohorts from multiple academic centers and a clinical trial. A total of 614 individuals from 5 short stature cohorts receiving GH: 297 with idiopathic short stature, 276 with isolated GH deficiency, and 65 born small for gestational age. Association of more than 2 million variants was tested. Primary analysis: individual single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) association with first-year change in height standard deviation scores. Secondary analyses: SNP associations in clinical subgroups adjusted for clinical variables; association of polygenic score calculated from 697 genome-wide significant height SNPs with GH responsiveness. No common variant associations reached genome-wide significance in the primary analysis. The strongest suggestive signals were found near the B4GALT4 and TBCE genes. After meta-analysis including replication data, signals at several loci reached or retained genome-wide significance in secondary analyses, including variants near ST3GAL6. There was no significant association with variants previously reported to be associated with GH response nor with a polygenic predicted height score. We performed the largest GWAS of GH responsiveness to date. We identified 2 loci with a suggestive effect on GH responsiveness in our primary analysis and several genome-wide significant associations in secondary analyses that require further replication. Our results are consistent with a polygenic component to GH responsiveness, likely distinct from the genetic regulators of adult height
Mercury isotopes in a forested ecosystem: Implications for airâsurface exchange dynamics and the global mercury cycle
Forests mediate the biogeochemical cycling of mercury (Hg) between the atmosphere and terrestrial ecosystems; however, there remain many gaps in our understanding of these processes. Our objectives in this study were to characterize Hg isotopic composition within forests, and use natural abundance stable Hg isotopes to track sources and reveal mechanisms underlying the cycling of Hg. We quantified the stable Hg isotopic composition of foliage, forest floor, mineral soil, precipitation, and total gaseous mercury (THg (g) ) in the atmosphere and in evasion from soil, in 10âyearâold aspen forests at the Rhinelander FACE experiment in northeastern Wisconsin, USA. The effect of increased atmospheric CO 2 and O 3 concentrations on Hg isotopic composition was small relative to differences among forest ecosystem components. Precipitation samples had ÎŽ 202 Hg values of â0.74 to 0.06â° and â 199 Hg values of 0.16 to 0.82â°. Atmospheric THg (g) had ÎŽ 202 Hg values of 0.48 to 0.93â° and â 199 Hg values of â0.21 to â0.15â°. Uptake of THg (g) by foliage resulted in a large (â2.89â°) shift in ÎŽ 202 Hg values; foliage displayed ÎŽ 202 Hg values of â2.53 to â1.89â° and â 199 Hg values of â0.37 to â0.23â°. Forest floor samples had ÎŽ 202 Hg values of â1.88 to â1.22â° and â 199 Hg values of â0.22 to â0.14â°. Mercury isotopes distinguished geogenic sources of Hg and atmospheric derived sources of Hg in soil, and showed that precipitation Hg only accounted for ~16% of atmospheric Hg inputs. The isotopic composition of Hg evasion from the forest floor was similar to atmospheric THg (g) ; however, there were systematic differences in ÎŽ 202 Hg values and MIF of even isotopes (â 200 Hg and â 204 Hg). Mercury evasion from the forest floor may have arisen from airâsurface exchange of atmospheric THg (g) , but was not the emission of legacy Hg from soils, nor reâemission of wetâdeposition. This implies that there was net atmospheric THg (g) deposition to the forest soils. Furthermore, MDF of Hg isotopes during foliar uptake and airâsurface exchange of atmospheric THg (g) resulted in the release of Hg with very positive ÎŽ 202 Hg values to the atmosphere, which is key information for modeling the isotopic balance of the global mercury cycle, and may indicate a shorter residence time than previously recognized for the atmospheric mercury pool. Key points Atmospheric Hg was fractionated during uptake by foliage (â2.89 permil ÎŽ202Hg) Hg evading from soil was from atmospheric Hg interaction with soil environment Airâsurface exchange of Hg releases Hg with positive ÎŽ202Hg to global reservoirPeer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/97463/1/2011GB004202RRts04.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/97463/2/2011GB004202RRts05.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/97463/3/2011GB004202RRts01.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/97463/4/gbc20021.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/97463/5/2011GB004202RRts06.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/97463/6/2011GB004202RRts02.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/97463/7/2011GB004202RRts07.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/97463/8/2011GB004202RRts03.pd
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