The Fission and Fusion of Nuclear Environmentalism: Nuclear Energy in the United States from 1945 to 1990

In 1945, the world first experienced the immense and devastating power of the nuclear bomb. The ability to harness the atom gave rise to an abundance of opportunities to advance society and conserve the human environment but also unleashed certain anxieties about the potentially destructive nature of this newfound atomic power. American politicians and scholars, torn between both their own wishes and fears, became hampered by the dilemma of this atomic “genie”. Research of historical arguments in conjunction with contemporary dialogues reveals a confusing and often contradictory story of nuclear power’s fission and fusion as it faced multiple issues. This paper investigates the history of nuclear power in the United States from the point of view of those in charge, including top scientific experts and government officials, from 1945 to 1990. It will explore the promising start of nuclear energy and explain its uneasy descent into uncertainty while considering the contemporarily emerging “environmentalism” movement. By doing so, it hopes to prove the precarious and often fragmented place that nuclear technology has in human history

How Anthracite Smothered Centralia, Pennsylvania

Underneath the long-abandoned streets of a remote Pennsylvania town, an inferno scorches the very earth. Centralia was once a booming mining community, but its history and legacy left it incinerated. A mine fire started in an old mining ditch would spread uncontrollably over the span of decades, causing the untimely end of the town. However, what really happened is not immediately clear, causing the story of Centralia to devolve into a confusing quagmire. Studying the intersection of governmental, social, and environmental historical evidence may unravel the mystery. This paper aims to elaborate on the history of Centralia and broader anthracite production, developing an argument that intertwines human industries and environmental traumas. It utilizes historical sources to analyze mining heritage and the emergence of environmental thought in relation to coal production. It excavates the true story of human lives in declining American communities as they contend with the permanent consequences of recklessly harvesting natural resources. Finally, it proposes that the tragedy of Centralia is vital to comprehending that human actions have intense ramifications on the planet when gone unchecked

Hozier, TikTok, and Sapphic Rhetoric

Through the process of social circulation and critical imagination, Sappho’s poetry, which maintains rhetoric that women, nature, and love are related to ritual and feminine divinity, intersects with queer digital rhetoric. Via discussion of feminist spirituality rhetoric, Marie Cartier’s lesbian theology, and rhetorical and literary analysis of Sappho’s lyrical fragments, I explore her Ancient Greek mythological, cultural aesthetics. I then connect sapphic rhetoric to two contemporary artifacts that represent or influence contemporary feminist, digital, and queer identities: the lyrics of the Irish musician Andrew Hozier-Byrne, known as Hozier and TikTok comment sections surrounding Hozier’s music and concert clips

Natural fiber reinforced polymer composites

The use of natural fibers as a reinforcement for various materials was recorded already in ancient Egypt; however, their rediscovery can be dated to the beginning of 20th century. Currentspecial issueisdevoted to theroleofnatural fibersas reinforcements for various biodegradable and nonbiodegradable polymer matrices. The application of natural fillers can be seen as an approach to adjust material performance of polymer composites supposing that filler/matrix interactions will be optimized and a hygroscopicity of natural fillers will be hindered. This special issue contains 16 papers that highlight a number of reasons for applications of natural fillers in polymer composites. In recent years the discussion about a balance in carbon footprint increased an attractiveness of natural fibers/fillers derived from agricultural sources predominantly from one-year plants

Automated Storage & Retrieval System

The California State University, Northridge (CSUN) Oviatt Library was the first library in the world to integrate an automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) into its operations. The AS/RS continues to provide efficient space management for the library. However, added value has been identified in materials security and inventory as well as customer service. The concept of library as space, paired with improved services and efficiencies, has resulted in the AS/RS becoming a critical component of library operations and future strategy. Staffing, service, and security opportunities paired with support and maintenance challenges, enable the library to provide a unique critique and assessment of an AS/RS

Engine Gimbal Requirements for Ground Testing of J-2X

Based on the Apollo-era J-2 that powered the second and third stages of the Saturn V, the current J-2X is the liquid hydrogen and oxygen high-altitude rocket engine in development for both the Ares I Upper Stage and Ares V Earth Departure Stage. During my summer 2009 internship, J-2X was at a stage in its design maturity where verification testing needed to be considered for the benefit of adequate test facility preparation. My task was to focus on gimbal requirements and gimbal related hot-fire test plans. Facility capabilities were also of interest, specifically for hot-fire testing slated to occur at test stands A-1, A-2, and A-3 at Stennis Space Center(SSC) in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Gimbal requirements and stage interface conditions were investigated by applying a top-to-bottom systems engineering approach, which involved system level requirements, engine level requirements from both government and engine contractor perspectives, component level requirements, and the J-2X to Upper Stage and Earth Departure Stage interface control documents. Previous hydrogen and oxygen liquid rocket engine gimbal verification methods were researched for a glimpse at lessons learned. Discussion among the J-2X community affected by gimballing was organized to obtain input relative to proper verification of their respective component. Implementing suggestions such as gimbal pattern, angulated dwell time, altitude testing options, power level, and feed line orientation, I was able to match tests to test stands in the A Complex at SSC. Potential test capability gaps and risks were identified and pursued. The culmination of all these efforts was to coordinate with SSC to define additional facility requirements for both the A-3 altitude test stand that is currently under construction and the A-1 sea level test stand which is being renovate

An Index of Groundworks and Bearings: Architectural lessons on foundation building in Vuntut Gwitchin traditional territory

The foundation mediates the relationship between a building and the land. It is a connection that is particularly challenging to ground in frozen soils. Bridging the Arctic Circle in the Northern Yukon, Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation traditional territory is situated between overlapping realities of the North and the South. The lives and knowledge of the peoples who have inhabited this place for millennia are entangled with a shifting land, one that experiences both changing seasons and increasing warming trends. Distanced professional ‘experts’ also engage these critical issues of environmental change through research and design. Within this dynamic context, holes exist in the dominant, arborescent decision-making models for foundation systems framing design as a problem, with solutions that privilege techno-scientific knowledge. This thesis is a constellation of work informed by architectural research, conversations, and time spent over the course of two summer seasons in Old Crow, Yukon, and my experience out on the land with local citizens who live close to it. Written from the position of a ‘not-knower’ – a visiting student of architecture and the land – this thesis offers a series of questions, attunements, and prompts for the designer. The work culminates in an index of annotated deep sections that detail the reciprocal relationships between what is above and below the ground’s surface. An Index of Groundworks and Bearings suggests a deeper reading of the foundation as a site of dialogue between buildings, the hands and minds that build, and the land. These exchanges, both voiced and silent, involve multiple ways of knowing and relating to the land. The index is a non-comprehensive illustrated inventory of foundations encountered in this region that float above the shifting ground or search for stasis deep below grade. It explores a multiscalar meshwork of projected abstractions and foundational relationships with the land that architecture might build on. Ultimately, the intention of this thesis is to open the visiting architect’s awareness of different ways to touch the land, while questioning the foundations of architectural practice itself

The Ethical Implications of Ineffective Advanced Directive Use

A patient, their family members, and their healthcare team all play a role in collectively deciding if and when it is best to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining therapies for a patient in an end-of-life situation. Although in some instances these difficult conversations are able to be held in advance, in many other cases end-of-life care decisions are required to be made in high-pressure situations with less time available due to unforeseen circumstances. Through the practice of narrative medicine, these conversations are especially important when trying to preserve or “hold” a patient\u27s identity for the time that they are alive rather than just delaying death. While advanced directives can play an important role in ensuring more ethical and comfortable end-of-life care, in our current status quo, the ineffective implementation of these legal/medical documents creates ethical concerns that go against the fundamental prioritization of a patient’s wishes and comfort. We will further explore how many people fill out advance directive forms, which demographics tend to rely on them, and the issues that often arise during the implementation of these forms

Sexual predators who prey on children: no second chances

Discusses the need to mandate life sentences without possibility of parole for child sex abusers

Algal Harvesting for Biodiesel Production: Comparing Centrifugation and Electrocoagulation

Electrocoagulation was compared to centrifugation at pilot scale for harvesting Nannochloris oculata and Nannochloropsis salina for biodiesel production. The pilot scale testing is a proof of concept and no optimization was conducted. Testing used the KASELCO commercial electrocoagulation system. The KASELCO electrocoagulation system successfully coagulated microalgae in laboratory testing. Aluminum and stainless steel electrodes successfully recovered algae in laboratory testing. Electricity consumed was lowest using aluminum electrodes in laboratory testing, but inconsistently coagulated microalgae at the pilot scale. Stainless steel electrodes consistently recovered algae and were selected as the primary electrode to treat microalgae at the pilot scale. Scaling power settings to pilot testing using laboratory data was successful following KASELCO’s proprietary guidelines. The KASELCO electrocoagulation system showed an electrical reduction in pilot scale operational cost for harvesting. Economic analysis using the Algae Income Simulation Model concluded that the KASELCO electrocoagulation system increase net present value of a commercial algae farm by $56,139,609 using a discount factor of 0.04. The KASELCO electrocoagulation system was calculated to use 26 kWh/ton at a commercial algae farm. However, cultivation and extraction processes are energy intensive, resulting in minimal electrical savings for the algae farm. The increase in net present value reduced production costs at the algae farm by 1%. The probability of success for the microalgae farm was zero for all scenarios analyzed. While a reduction in capital and operational costs were observed, several improvements, including harvesting using electrocoagulation, in cultivation, extraction, and conversion are necessary for economic success for biodiesel production using algae farms