Oxygen Isotopes as a Tracer of DOM Processes in River-Estuary Systems

In the biogeochemical study of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in natural waters, stable isotopes are used to provide insight into both the sources of DOM and the processes affecting its alteration. Through the research presented here, oxygen isotopes are incorporated into the study of DOM through the adaptation of a pyrolysis elemental analysis isotope ratio mass spectrometer method, and sample preparation using two-stage ultrafiltration. The application of oxygen isotopes to the study of DOM is demonstrated in two studies. First, natural abundance of δ18O in DOM is explored in the Delaware estuary. Using a two end-member mixing model, DOM oxygen isotopes are compared with carbon isotopes, DOC concentrations and elemental ratios to determine if changes are a result of two water bodies mixing. Isotope values are decoupled from concentration values and indicate that from an isotopic perspective two end member mixing is completed by mid bay. A conceptual model is presented with comparison to the observed data. However, the extension of this model to DOM δ18O values show that additional processes affect the DOM oxygen along the estuary transect. Oxygen isotopes are also used in an enrichment study to assess the sources of DOM oxygen in the photochemical oxidation of organic matter. In a series of laboratory irradiations using York River and Dismal Swamp water amended with either 18O-enriched dissolved oxygen or water, the amount of 18O incorporated into the high molecular weight dissolved organic matter was determined. For both sites, a fraction of the oxygen in DOM was photochemically incorporated from dissolved oxygen, although a larger fraction was incorporated from water. The differences in incorporation between sites are attributable to DOM compositional differences. An oxygen budget is proposed for the observed Dismal Swamp photochemical DOM oxidation. DOM oxygen isotopes provide an additional dimension in the investigation of DOM sources and alteration processes. As DOM δ18O values appear to be affected by processes that do not alter the δ13C values and are not correlated with the water δ18O value, it provides an additional parameter for characterizing high molecular weight DOM

Resource recovery from wastewater using forward osmosis membranes

Forward osmosis (FO) is an emerging membrane separation technology that has the potential to serve as a game changer in wastewater treatment. FO-based processes can simultaneously produce high quality effluent and pre-concentrate wastewater for anaerobic treatment to facilitate the recovery of energy and nutrients. Complex wastewaters can be directly pre-treated by FO, and fresh water can be produced when FO is coupled with a draw solute recovery process (i.e. reverse osmosis or membrane distillation). By enriching organic carbon and nutrients for subsequent biogas production, FO extends the resource recovery potential of current wastewater treatment processes. Despite this potential, FO research is still in its infancy, and applications of FO for simultaneous treatment and resource recovery from municipal wastewater are developing. This thesis focuses on investigating and optimising the use of FO membranes for resource recovery applications, with respect to, integrating FO with anaerobic treatment, draw solute selection, mitigating salinity build-up, and membrane fouling. A selection protocol was developed to determine suitable draw solutes for FO membrane systems that integrate anaerobic treatment for biogas recovery. Draw solutes were evaluated in terms of their ability to induce osmotic pressure, water flux, and reverse solute flux. The compatibility of each draw solute with subsequent anaerobic treatment was assessed by biomethane potential (BMP) analysis. Ten draw solutes were evaluated at the same osmotic pressure (i.e. 30 bar) and each draw solute exhibited diverse flux performance. The results showed a strong influence of draw solute physiochemical properties on water and reverse solute flux. This correlation suggested that a trade-off exists between the selection of highly diffusive draw solutes that display high water flux, and those which show a low reverse solute flux. Sodium acetate (NaOAc) and magnesium acetate (Mg2OAc) displayed unique behaviour compared to other draw solutes, as a high water flux and reverse solute flux selectivity was achieved. BMP analysis indicated that ionic organic draw solutes (e.g., NaOAc and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA-2Na)) were most suitable when integrating FO with anaerobic treatment. On the other hand, the reverse solute flux of inorganic draw solutions (e.g. sodium chloride (NaCl)) appeared to inhibit methane production by 11% in FO pre-concentrated wastewater at the concentration corresponding to a ten-fold concentration factor

NYC Hunger Experience 2009: A Year in Recession

As 2009 draws to a close, a consideration of food poverty facilitates a unique analysis of the nation's recession, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and other recession responses, and highlights challenges and opportunities in the months and years ahead. For the purpose of such an analysis, the Food Bank For New York City's 2009 edition of NYC Hunger Experience -- the annual opinion poll series conducted in conjunction with Marist College Institute for Public Opinion -- includes results from a survey of New York City's emergency food organizations (soup kitchens and food pantries) to provide a comprehensive picture of how the recession is impacting New Yorkers

Innovation in Banking: An exploratory case study of SR-Bank with a focus on internal versus external innovation development.

The purpose of this thesis is to answer the question What is most beneficial for SR-Bank; to invest in external innovation and start-ups, or to focus on internal innovation development? Or is it a combination of both?. This thesis evaluates SR-Banks innovation strategy, and focuses on the decisions SR-Bank has made when it comes to investing in their internal innovation lab and innovation team compared to their decisions to invest in innovations through Finstart Nordic. The literature and theories used in this thesis are focused on Innovation, Innovation Strategy, Employee-Driven Innovation, Open Innovation, McKinsey’s Three Horizons of Growth, Maximizing Returns on Innovation, and Fintech. The empirical approach for the study, is an exploratory case study, which was conducted using the qualitative approach. A total of 9 semi-structured in-depth interviews form the basis of the collected primary data. In the data analysis, we find for Employee-Driven Innovation (EDI) that there are improvements to be made in the second and third order, meaning that the management needs to systematize and formalize the innovation processes initiated by the employees (second order), as well as encourage the employees to participate (third order). To facilitate more EDI, the suggestion is to develop a new portal for employees to come up with innovative ideas, implement an open-door policy, inform the employees on new innovation processes earlier in the process, and encourage a larger visibility of those who work in the Strategy, Innovation and Development department. In regards to Open Innovation, the bank should use more of the inside-out type, by allowing externals, such as Finstart Nordic, to utilize their ideas. As for McKinsey’s Three Horizons of Growth, the bank should continue to use their current strategy, meaning that Horizon One should be conducted internally, while Horizon Two and Horizon Three mainly should be conducted externally by FinStart Nordic. Here, Horizon One includes incremental innovation and maintaining the core of the business, Horizon Two includes nurturing current business or emerging business, while Horizon Three includes disruptive innovations or completely new business. The thesis concludes that a combination of both internal innovation development and investment in external innovation and start-ups is the best solution. This combination allows SR-Bank to take advantage of lucrative investing opportunities with companies whose products align with the bank’s needs. It also allows for an internal team to specialize in what they do, and remain committed to both designing the innovation strategy, which leads to what types of innovation start-ups the bank will invest in, and manage the Employee-Driven initiatives internally

NYC Hunger Experience 2010: Less Food on the Table

Food poverty and unemployment trends over the past year raise questions about what it means for low-income New Yorkers to experience a jobless recovery and the lengths to which families must go to keep food on the table. To provide insight into these questions, the Food Bank For New York City's 2010 edition of the NYC Hunger Experience report series -- an annual opinion poll conducted in collaboration with Marist College Institute for Public Opinion -- adds new results about the financial coping mechanisms New Yorkers have used to get by during the recession and their predictions for the future to the yearly findings on difficulty affording food, impact of loss of income and concern about needing food assistance

Exploring Rural Engineering Students’ College-Choice Process at Two Land-Grant Universities

This qualitative case study examines the college choice decisions of rural students enrolled in engineering majors to understand what conditions and experiences led rural students to pursue engineering at their institution. We found four themes that help illuminate rural engineering students’ college choice journeys (1) The Inextricable Nature of College, Major, and Career Choice (2) “The Smart Person Thing to Do:” The Power of Prestige, (3) “Are You Sure You Don’t Want to Change your Major?” Dissonance Between Aspirations and Expectations, and (4) School and Community as Crucial Resources in College and Major Exploration. These findings have implications for those working with rural high school students seeking engineering degrees and admissions processes at four-year colleges and universities

Describing Interdisciplinary Agricultural Research Center Directors’ Perceptions of Science Communication Through Goals and Beliefs

This study explored the perceptions of science communication held by interdisciplinary agricultural research center directors and identified the directors’ goals and beliefs, specifically related to science communication. Ten interdisciplinary agricultural research center directors from top research, land-grant institutions were interviewed for this study. Findings from this study determined that the directors’ perceptions were rooted in service to the public, knowledge, public good, obligation, and relationships. Participants discussed attempting to bring awareness to science as a goal of science communication. They also discussed feeling obligated to communicate about science as part of a land-grant institution. Participants particularly believed that faculty with Extension appointments were more so obligated to communicate with the public. Future research should determine the science communication participation of Extension faculty. Additionally, future research should determine if faculty at land-grant institutions are more inclined to communicate about science when compared to faculty not associated with land-grant institutions