How did the similarity of the Packers and Green Knights team colors (green and gold) come about?

Abbot Pennings answers a question about the college colors and the Packers, archived from the SNC website

Fast quantitative determination of microbial rhamnolipids from cultivation broths by ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Vibrational spectroscopic techniques are becoming increasingly important and popular because they have the potential to provide rapid and convenient solutions to routine analytical problems. Using these techniques, a variety of substances can be characterized, identified and also quantified rapidly.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The rapid ATR-FTIR (Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) <it>in time </it>technique has been applied, which is suitable to quantify the concentrations of microbial rhamnolipids in a typical cultivation process. While the usually applied HPLC analysis requires an extensive and time consuming multi step extraction protocol for sample preparation, the ATR-FTIR-method allows the quantification of the rhamnolipids within 20 minutes. Accuracies between 0.5 g/l – 2.1 g/l for the different analytes were determined by cross validation of the calibration set. Even better accuracies between 0.28 g/l – 0.59 g/l were found for independent test samples of an arbitrarily selected cultivation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>ATR-FTIR was found to be suitable for the rapid analysis of rhamnolipids in a biotechnological process with good reproducibility in sample determination and sufficient accuracy. An improvement in accuracy through continuous expansion and validation of the reference spectra set seems very likely.</p

Eugene Residents Risk Perceptions of Water Scarcity

Potential water scarcity and drought conditions are predicted in and around Eugene, Oregon due to decreased snowpack and subsequent decreased snowmelt in the Western Cascade Mountains. This phenomenon was triggered by a long-term trend of warmer winters scientifically linked to global climate change patterns (Dalton et al. 2013). Numerous stakeholders, ecological processes, and habitats are dependent on the water flow of Willamette Valley Rivers, in Oregon. Snowmelt is crucial for freshwater flows to feed these rivers during the dry summer months. Hierarchies of interrelatedness or coupled human and natural systems (CHANS) are concepts that can be used to understand human-nature relationships in this region. These intricate linkages may compound impacts leading to more severe drought, increased fire risks, water conflicts, and economic decline. Water managers and residents will need to prepare for risks and uncertainty related to future water availability in the region. This case study addresses the questions: “What are Eugene residents’ perceptions of risk related to severe water scarcity linked to climate change?” and “How does this perception of risk impact public participation and support of local sustainable water management strategies?” Qualitative approaches are employed to understand these and other related questions through content analysis of a “Risk Perceptions Survey” and in-depth literature review. This research project could be used to assist water management organizations and residents in creating sustainable solutions to prevent potential social and ecological ramifications. Natural resource managers in this region should consider increasing public outreach and education about water scarcity and preparedness while also improving collaboration and communication with residents. In addition, adaptive and mitigation management styles should be implemented before possible water scarcity. Water regulation agencies should consider the impact of outdated water laws on water use in order to encourage and improve water conservation and wise use

Energy storage for frequency regulation on the electric grid

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2012.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 271-280).Ancillary services such as frequency regulation are required for reliable operation of the electric grid. Currently, the same traditional thermal generators that supply bulk power also perform nearly all frequency regulation. Instead, using high power energy storage resources to provide frequency regulation can allow traditional thermal generators to operate more smoothly. However, using energy storage alone for frequency regulation would require an unreasonably large energy storage capacity. Duration curves for energy capacity and instantaneous ramp rate are used to evaluate the requirements and benefits of using energy storage for a component of frequency regulation. Filtering is used to separate the portion of a frequency regulation control signal suitable for provision by an energy storage unit from the portion suitable for provision by traditional thermal generating resources. Not all frequency regulation signals are equally amenable to the filtering approach used here. Data from two U.S. control areas are used to demonstrate the techniques and the results are compared.by Olivia Leitermann.Ph.D

Entwicklung und Optimierung eines biotechnologischen Prozesses zur Herstellung mikrobieller Rhamnolipide auf Basis nachwachsender Rohstoffe

Im Fokus dieser Arbeit steht die Entwicklung und Optimierung eines biotechnologischen Prozesses zur Herstellung von Rhamnolipiden auf Basis von nachwachsenden Rohstoffen. Ein Schwerpunkt lag hierbei auf der Entwicklung und Evaluierung einer Standardprozessführung, sowie eines auf einem Parallelbioreaktor basierenden, effizienten Screening-Systems. Ein Produk­tions­stammvergleich wurde durchgeführt. Zur Produktanalyse sollte FTIR-Spektroskopie als alternative Analysemethode eingesetzt werden

Neuronal diversity of the amygdala and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis

The amygdala complex is a diverse group of more than 13 nuclei, segregated in five major groups: the basolateral (BLA), central (CeA), medial (MeA), cortical (CoA), and basomedial (BMA) amygdala nuclei. These nuclei can be distinguished depending on their cytoarchitectonic properties, connectivity, genetic, and molecular identity, and most importantly, on their functional role in animal behavior. The extended amygdala includes the CeA and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST). Both CeA and the BNST share similar cellular organization, including common neuron types, reciprocal connectivity, and many overlapping downstream targets. In this section, we describe the advances of our knowledge on neuronal diversity in the amygdala complex and the BNST, based on recent functional studies, performed at genetic, molecular, physiological, and anatomical levels in rodent models, especially rats and mice. Molecular and connection property can be used separately, or in combinations, to define neuronal populations, leading to a multiplexed neuronal diversity-supporting different functional roles. © 2020 Elsevier B.V

Radio frequency direct current-direct current converters : device characterization, topology evaluation, and design

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2008.Includes bibliographical references (p. 155-157).High frequency power conversion is attractive for the opportunities it affords for improved performance. Dc-dc converters operating at high frequencies use smaller-valued energy storage elements, which tend to be physically smaller and lower-cost, and this can result in improved transient performance while retaining high efficiency. One way to achieve high switching frequencies is by using resonant inverter and rectifier topologies and regulating voltage via on-off control. This scheme requires a great deal of investigation of design practices appropriate to high frequency power conversion. The design issues were investigated for a 200 W 160-200 V input 33 V output converter. A comparison of resonant inverter topologies for the power stage was made. Appropriate devices were sought, compared, and characterized. A high frequency gate drive scheme for a large vertical MOSFET was developed. Several prototypes were built and these are also presented.by Olivia Leitermann.S.M