PPPs in China: Does the growth in Chinese PPPs signal a liberalising economy?

This study provides insight into the nature of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in China, a country that has invested more in PPPs than any other over the last two decades. It is puzzling that China, as a state-led economy, has turned to embrace PPPs. Pundits have taken this as evidence of a liberalising Chinese economy. However, our findings suggest that PPPs in China do not reflect a break from earlier, state-centric modes of governance; rather, the state essentially uses such partnerships as a mechanism to strengthen its own hand. We argue that the difference between how PPPs are being implemented in China compared to the West reflects differences in political economic contexts, both materially and ideologically. In both cases, the ambiguity surrounding the PPP model has been used to advance particular interests, serving as a reminder of both the ways in which power shapes the character of such policy tools and the differences in the relative power underpinning state-market relations in each context. By challenging mainstream interpretations of what PPPs are and what their proliferation means, studying the political economy of PPPs in a rising China further exposes the Western-centric nature of prevailing wisdom in political economy scholarship

Joint spatiotemporal modelling reveals seasonally dynamic patterns of Japanese encephalitis vector abundance across India

Predicting vector abundance and seasonality, key components of mosquito-borne disease (MBD) hazard, is essential to determine hotspots of MBD risk and target interventions effectively. Japanese encephalitis (JE), an important MBD, is a leading cause of viral encephalopathy in Asia with 100,000 cases estimated annually, but data on the principal vector Culex tritaeniorhynchus is lacking. We developed a Bayesian joint-likelihood model that combined information from available vector occurrence and abundance data to predict seasonal vector abundance for C. tritaeniorhynchus (a constituent of JE hazard) across India, as well as examining the environmental drivers of these patterns. Using data collated from 57 locations from 24 studies, we find distinct seasonal and spatial patterns of JE vector abundance influenced by climatic and land use factors. Lagged precipitation, temperature and land use intensity metrics for rice crop cultivation were the main drivers of vector abundance, independent of seasonal, or spatial variation. The inclusion of environmental factors and a seasonal term improved model prediction accuracy (mean absolute error [MAE] for random cross validation = 0.48) compared to a baseline model representative of static hazard predictions (MAE = 0.95), signalling the importance of seasonal environmental conditions in predicting JE vector abundance. Vector abundance varied widely across India with high abundance predicted in northern, north-eastern, eastern, and southern regions, although this ranged from seasonal (e.g., Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal) to perennial (e.g., Assam, Tamil Nadu). One-month lagged predicted vector abundance was a significant predictor of JE outbreaks (odds ratio 2.45, 95% confidence interval: 1.52–4.08), highlighting the possible development of vector abundance as a proxy for JE hazard. We demonstrate a novel approach that leverages information from sparse vector surveillance data to predict seasonal vector abundance–a key component of JE hazard–over large spatial scales, providing decision-makers with better guidance for targeting vector surveillance and control efforts

Spiritual Attitudes and Values in Young Children

Research has shown that spirituality is an important function of a child’s social, emotional, and personal development. Nevertheless, minimal research exists on spiritual attitudes and values in young children. This study examined children’s development and spirituality using a modified version of the Attitudes and Values Questionnaire (AVQ). The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) developed the AVQ with the dimensions of Conscience, Compassion, Social Growth, Emotional Growth, Service to Others, Commitment to God, and Commitment to Jesus. Commitment to God and Commitment to Jesus were optional dimensions later added by ACER to focus specifically on Christian principles. Following permission from ACER to adapt the AVQ for younger children, the questionnaire was modified using the Flesch-Kincaid Readability Scale to allow for better question comprehension among the young participants, ages 5–14. Researchers contacted family members and various Christian schools in their home states across the eastern United States and asked if they would be willing to administer the modified AVQ to their students. The intention was to expand upon knowledge about young children’s attitudes and values related to Christian spirituality. Specifically, the researchers were trying to find if there may be relationships among children’s view of self, view of others, and spirituality. Correlations were run in order to determine if different dimensions, particularly the social growth dimensions and the Christian dimensions, were significantly related. A correlation chart compared all variables and the results indicated that there were strong correlations among the dimensions

HaptX Team Final Project Report

A traditional haptic device utilizes motors to impose feedback motion constraints on a user interacting with it. However, primary concerns with human-robot interaction include safety, stability, and ease of manufacturing. It is therefore desired to develop a passive haptic device that users can interact with by moving the system along constrained single degree of freedom (SDOF) paths while restricting motion in other directions. The goal of the project is to develop a planar passive haptic system that can restrict motion paths while allowing only the prescribed SDOF paths. The device is required to have at least six SDOF paths and force resistance capable of blocking the user when they deviate away from an SDOF path and preventing them from damaging the device. Additionally, the minimum angle between adjacent SDOF paths must be less than 90 degrees. The design that we chose was a system of six linkages connected by brakes at each joint. These brakes are pneumatically powered and turn on and off to hold and release the motion of the linkages. Rotary encoders are mounted at the bottom of the brakes to track the relative position of the joints and the handle that is moved by the user. The primary requirements were that the system had at least 6 SDOF paths and could resist a maximum torque of 11Nm, produced by a user at the handle. To test that the device matched the characteristics and requirements that it was designed, the assembled prototype was subject to many tests, as well as virtual simulations. Some requirements and constraints were achieved simply by nature of the design. For example, the six SDOF paths are inherently included in the design by the addition of 6 brakes, and therefore it does not need to be confirmed through testing. However, some tests were performed to test the functionality, including both angle measurement and force testing for one linkage, as well as the full system. In addition, MATLAB simulations verified the angle change between the different degrees of freedom paths. Each of these tests verified different parts of the requirements. All of these tests were successful. There are no major modifications that need to be made to the device moving forward. All requirements for design have been met. However, there are modifications that should be made to increase the ability and accuracy of the device. Currently there is too much slack in the joints that will not only affect force, but position measurements as well. This issue should be address to improve the device

Plate Pouring Device I

The goal of this project was to build a cost-effective automated system that can handle the process of pouring agar into plates, but is also easily sterilized and operates with no supervision. This agar plate-pouring machine is intended to increase productivity in small-scale biology and research labs by pouring at least 120 plates per hour while keeping the agar sterile and preventing contamination. This was accomplished with a multi-valve system controlled by an Arduino board which could also fit inside of a fume hood

Heat Flow Characterization of Speakers

Statement of Confidentiality: The complete senior project report was submitted to the project advisor and sponsor. The results of this project are of a confidential nature and will not be published at this time

AN INTEGRATED ANALYSIS OF SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY, PETROLEUM GEOCHEMISTRY, AND DEVONIAN MASS EXTINCTION EVENTS IN THE WOODFORD SHALE, SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA

Geochemical analyses of the Late Devonian-Early Mississippian Woodford Shale have revealed a more dynamic history than previously considered, reflecting discrete changes in the conditions surrounding its depositional history. Biomarkers, pyrolysis, and chemostratigraphy provide evidence for paleoenvironmental variations in setting, water chemistry, and organofacies. Dominated by an overall transgressive sequence, the Oklahoma Woodford Shale demonstrates alternating circulation patterns with fluctuating marine and continental organic input, and intermittent events of photic zone euxinia (PZE), resulting in heterogenic distributions regionally and sequentially. Furthermore, biomarker studies have indicated two Late-Devonian biotic crises including the Frasnian-Famennian (F-F) Kellwasser Event and the Devonian-Carboniferous (D-C) Hangenberg Event. Cumulatively, the two events contribute to one of five of the most devastating mass extinctions in Earth’s history. These boundaries, located in the middle and upper Woodford respectively, have also been closely studied in time-equivalent shales worldwide. Biomarkers from Devonian land plants and their combusted derivatives highlight an influx of continental organic matter into the Late Devonian-Early Mississippian Woodford Sea. Increased soil runoff and nutrient flux from newly evolved vascular plants and massive forest fires could have contributed to the widespread eutrophication and anoxia, which resulted in the high organic matter preservation of this important source rock. A well-preserved, 80-foot Interstate-35 outcrop in Carter County, Oklahoma provides a unique opportunity to investigate detailed geochemical and stratigraphic trends across the middle and upper Woodford. A biomarker study was conducted to assess complexities of the Woodford’s deposition, with a particular focus on the relationship between sequence stratigraphy, organic input, euxinic episodes, and the two Late Devonian mass extinctions. For the first time, the geochemical evidence of the Hangenberg Crisis is defined for the Woodford Shale. Analysis of biomarkers, including carotenoids, aryl isoprenoids, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons demonstrated cyclic patterns in depositional history, leading to better prediction of hydrocarbon-rich intervals. This study found aryl isoprenoids and carotenoids, indicators of PZE, to be higher in abundance than previously seen in the upper Woodford, signifying regional differences in circulation and oxic conditions, and possibly greater preservation within the Ardmore Basin. In addition, terrestrially-sourced biomarkers and their pyrogenic derivatives were identified, demonstrating a link between basinal input from land plants and euxinic conditions in the Woodford Sea

A metagenomics approach to evaluate the impact of dietary supplementation with Ascophyllum nodosum or Laminaria digitata on rumen function in Rusitec fermenters

There is an increasing need to identify alternative feeds for livestock that do not compete with foods for humans. Seaweed might provide such a resource, but there is limited information available on its value as an animal feed. Here we use a multi-omics approach to investigate the value of two brown seaweeds, Ascophyllum nodosum (ASC) and Laminaria digitata (LAM), as alternative feeds for ruminants. These seaweeds were supplemented at 5% inclusion rate into a control diet (CON) in a rumen simulation fermenter. The seaweeds had no substantial effect on rumen fermentation, feed degradability or methane emissions. Concentrations of total bacteria, anaerobic fungi, biodiversity indices and abundances of the main bacterial and methanogen genera were also unaffected. However, species-specific effects of brown seaweed on the rumen function were noted: ASC promoted a substantial decrease in N degradability (-24%) due to its high phlorotannins content. Canonical correspondence analysis of the bacterial community revealed that low N availability led to a change in the structure of the bacterial community. ASC also decreased the concentration of Escherichia coli O157:H7 post-inoculation. In contrast, LAM which has a much lower phlorotannin content did not cause detrimental effects on N degradability nor modified the structure of the bacterial community in comparison to CON. This adaptation of the microbial community to LAM diets led to a greater microbial ability to digest xylan (+70%) and carboxy-methyl-cellulose (+41%). These differences among brown seaweeds resulted in greater microbial protein synthesis (+15%) and non-ammonia N flow (+11%) in LAM than in ASC diets and thus should led to a greater amino acid supply to the intestine of the animal. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that incorporation of brown seaweed into the diet can be considered as a suitable nutritional strategy for ruminants; however special care must be taken with those seaweeds with high phlorotannin concentrations to prevent detrimental effects on N metabolism. This study highlights the value of combining fermentation and enzyme activity data with molecular characterization of the rumen microbiome in evaluating novel feeds for ruminants. Further experiments are required to determine the maximum seaweed inclusion rate tolerated by rumen microbes

Nano-Sized and Filterable Bacteria and Archaea:Biodiversity and Function

Nano-sized and filterable microorganisms are thought to represent the smallest living organisms on earth and are characterized by their small size (50–400 nm) and their ability to physically pass through <0.45 μm pore size filters. They appear to be ubiquitous in the biosphere and are present at high abundance across a diverse range of habitats including oceans, rivers, soils, and subterranean bedrock. Small-sized organisms are detected by culture-independent and culture-dependent approaches, with most remaining uncultured and uncharacterized at both metabolic and taxonomic levels. Consequently, their significance in ecological roles remain largely unknown. Successful isolation, however, has been achieved for some species (e.g., Nanoarchaeum equitans and “Candidatus Pelagibacter ubique”). In many instances, small-sized organisms exhibit a significant genome reduction and loss of essential metabolic pathways required for a free-living lifestyle, making their survival reliant on other microbial community members. In these cases, the nano-sized prokaryotes can only be co-cultured with their ‘hosts.’ This paper analyses the recent data on small-sized microorganisms in the context of their taxonomic diversity and potential functions in the environment