Conducting nanotubes or nanostructures based composites, method of making them and applications

An electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding material includes a matrix of a dielectric or partially conducting polymer, such as foamed polystyrene, with carbon nanotubes or other nanostructures dispersed therein in sufficient concentration to make the material electrically conducting. The composite is formed by dispersing the nanotube material in a solvent in which the dielectric or partially conducting polymer is soluble and mixing the resulting suspension with the dielectric or partially conducting polymer. A foaming agent can be added to produce a lightweight foamed material. An organometallic compound can be added to enhance the conductivity further by decomposition into a metal phase

Atmospheric water balance

Submitted to Office of Water Resources Research, U.S. Department of Interior.Includes bibliographical references.OWRR project no. B-035-COLO

Factors Influencing Adoption of Remotely Sensed Imagery for Site-Specific Management in Cotton Production

This research evaluated the factors that influenced cotton producers to adopt remote sensing for variable rate application of inputs. Farmers who were younger, more highly educated, had a larger farm operation, and were more technologically savvy were more likely to have adopted remote sensing.Crop Production/Industries, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Adoption of Conservation-Tillage Practices in Cotton Production

Replaced with revised version of paper 10/23/07.conservation tillage, cotton, genetically modified seed, herbicide-resistant cotton, stacked-gene cotton, simultaneous logit model, single-equation logit model, technology adoption, Crop Production/Industries,

From Isotopes to TK Interviews: Towards Interdisciplinary Research in Fort Resolution and the Slave River Delta, Northwest Territories

Evolving research in Fort Resolution and the Slave River Delta, Northwest Territories, aims to improve understanding of how the natural ecosystem functions and responds to various environmental stressors, as well as to enhance the stewardship of natural resources and the capacity of local residents to respond to change. We seek to integrate approaches that span the natural and social sciences and traditional knowledge understandings of change, employing a research design developed in response to the concerns of a northern community. In doing so, we have strived for a research process that is collaborative, interdisciplinary, policy-oriented, and reflective of northern priorities. These elements characterize the new northern research paradigm increasingly promoted by various federal funding agencies, northern partners, and communities. They represent a holistic perspective in the pursuit of solutions to address complex environmental and socioeconomic concerns about impacts of climate change and resource development on northern societies. However, efforts to fulfill the objectives of this research paradigm are associated with a host of on-the-ground challenges. These challenges include (but are not restricted to) developing effective community partnerships and collaboration and documenting change through interdisciplinary approaches. Here we provide an overview of the components that comprise our interdisciplinary research program and offer an accounting of our formative experiences in confronting these challenges

A Binary Logit Estimation of Factors Affecting Adoption of GPS Guidance Systems by Cotton Producers

Binary logit analysis was used to identify the factors influencing adoption of Global Positioning System (GPS) guidance systems by cotton farmers in 11 Mid-south and Southeastern states. Results indicate that adoption was more likely by those who had already adopted other precision-farming practices and had used computers for farm management. In addition, younger and more affluent farmers were more likely to adopt. Farmers with larger farms and with relatively high yields were also more likely to adopt. Education was not a significant factor in a farmer’s decision to adopt GPS guidance systems.binary logit, cotton, GPS guidance system, marginal effect, precision farming, technology adoption, Agribusiness, Crop Production/Industries, Q2, Q16, Q19, Q20, Q24,

Precision Farming by Cotton Producers in Eleven Southern States: Results from the 2005 Southern Precision Farming Survey

Precision Farming by Cotton Producers in Eleven Southern States: Results from the 2005 Southern Precision Farming Surveycotton, precision farming, survey, Agribusiness, Farm Management, Production Economics, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Accuracy of predictive methods to estimate resting energy expenditure of thermally-injured patients

Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bias and precision of 46 methods published from 1953 to 2000 for estimating resting energy expenditure (REE) of thermally injured patients. Methods Twenty-four adult patients with ≥20% body surface area burn admitted to a burn center who required specialized nutrition support and who had their REE measured via indirect calorimetry (IC) were evaluated. Patients with morbid obesity, human immunovirus, malignancy, pregnancy, hepatic or renal failure, neuromuscular paralysis, or those requiring a FiO2 \u3e50% or positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) ≥10 cm H2O were excluded. One steady-state measured REE measurement (MEE) was obtained per patient. The methods of Sheiner and Beal were used to assess bias and precision of these methods. The formulas were considered unbiased if the 95% confidence interval (CI) for the error (kilocalories per day) intersected 0 and were considered precise if the 95% CI for the absolute error (%) was within 15% of MEE. Results MEE was 2780 ± 567 kcal/d or 158% ± 34% of the Harris Benedict equations. None of the methods was precise (≤15% CI error). Over one-half (57%) of the 46 methods had a 95% confidence interval error \u3e30% of the MEE. Forty-eight percent of the methods were unbiased, 33% were biased toward overpredicting MEE, and 19% consistently underpredicted MEE. The pre-1980s methods more frequently overpredicted MEE compared with the 1990 to 2000 (p \u3c .01) and 1980 to 1989 (p \u3c .05) published methods, respectively. The most precise unbiased methods for estimating MEE were those of Milner (1994) at a mean error of 16% (CI of 10% to 22%), Zawacki (1970) with a mean error of 16% (CI of 9% to 23%), and Xie (1993) at a mean error of 18% (CI of 12% to 24%). The conventional 1.5 times the Harris Benedict equations was also unbiased and had a mean error of 19% (CI of 9% to 29%). Conclusions Thermally injured patients are variably hypermetabolic and energy expenditure cannot be precisely predicted. If IC is not available, the most precise, unbiased methods were those of Milner (1994), Zawacki (1970), and Xie (1993)

A comparison of renal phosphorus regulation in thermally-injured and multiple trauma patients receiving specialized nutrition support

To compare phosphorus intake and renal phosphorus regulation between thermally injured patients and multiple trauma patients, 40 consecutive critically ill patients, 20 with thermal injury and 20 with multiple trauma, who required enteral tube feeding were evaluated. Phosphorus intakes were recorded for 14 days from the initiation of tube feeding which was started 1 to 3 days post-injury. Serum for determination of phosphorus concentrations was collected at days 1, 3, 7, and 14 of the study period. A 24-hour urine collection was obtained during the first and second weeks of nutrition support for urinary phosphorus excretion, fractional excretion of phosphorus, renal threshold phosphate concentration, and phosphorus clearance. Average total daily phosphorus intake during the 14-day study for thermally injured patients and multiple trauma patients was 0.99 ± 0.26 mmol/kg/d vs 0.58 ± 0.21 mmol/kg/d, respectively, p \u3c .001. Serum phosphorus concentration on the third day of observation was significantly lower in the thermally injured group than those with multiple trauma (1.9 ± 0.8 mg/dL vs 3.0 ± 0.8 mg/dL, p ≤ .01). A trend toward hypophosphatemia in the thermally injured group persisted by the seventh day of feeding (2.7 ± 1.2 mg/dL vs 3.3 ± 0.6 mg/dL, p ≤ .04). Differences in urinary phosphorus excretion was not statistically significant between the thermally injured and multiple trauma groups (271 ± 213 mg/d vs 171 ± 181 mg/d for week 1, and 320 ± 289 mg/d vs 258 ± 184 mg/d for week 2, respectively). Urinary phosphorus clearance, fractional excretion of phosphorus, or renal threshold phosphate concentrations were also not significantly different between thermally injured and multiple trauma patients. During nutrition support, serum phosphorus concentrations are lower in thermally injured patients compared with multiple trauma patients despite receiving a significantly greater intake of phosphorus. Renal phosphorus regulation does not significantly contribute to the profound hypophosphatemia observed in thermally injured patients when compared with multiple trauma patients during nutrition support

Adoption and Abandonment of Precision Soil Sampling in Cotton Production

Technology adoption in precision agriculture has received considerable attention, while abandonment has received little. Our objective was to identify factors motivating adoption and abandonment of precision soil sampling in cotton. Results indicate younger producers who farmed more cotton area, owned more of their cropland, planted more non-cotton area, used a computer, or used a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) were more likely to adopt precision soil sampling. Those with more cotton area or who owned livestock were more likely to abandon, while those who used precision soil sampling longer, used a PDA, or used variable-rate fertilizer application were less likely to abandon.Crop Production/Industries,