A Truly Transformative HRE: Facing our Current Challenges

In this research project, we examine how human rights education can go be-yond the symbolism and rhetoric of rights and, instead, be understood in a way that critically considers the continued social, economic, and political inequalities that persist. Learning about rights should be informed by the lived experiences of those whose rights have been and continue to be violated. We use five years of research which empirically documents the impact and learning that took place in an interdisciplinary, action-oriented high school class comprised of honors/Advanced Placement (AP), refugee/migrant and special education students. By understanding and investigating identity, belonging, and citizenship through critical historical inquiry, experiential learning in diverse classroom settings, and civic action lessons, human rights education can provide a more complex way of looking at and understanding rights and responsibilities in a global world. The research examines the limitations in teaching human rights through “declarationism” (or merely through presenting texts, facts, and figures); but it also describes the strengths and possibilities for teaching rights through engaged critical praxis which enables learners to explore their rights and injustices through social action projects in their communities. We describe a combined university and high school course “Human Rights Activism and Education” which integrated university students with refugee/migrant and American high school students. Through action research projects that were carried out over a year-long course, students engaged in investigations about the intersections of race, class, and gender with issues of power and status, and considered these in light of their own experiences as well as their potential to impact the following concerns: homelessness, food security, racial discrimination, and immigration

Parametric study of lab-scale and pilot-scale biomass torrefaction for the production of woodstove briquettes

Conversion of torrefied olive residues to high-density briquettes is a potential solution to solid waste problems as well as to the lack of locally available fuel wood in Ireland. In this study, olive stones were torrefied at various temperatures and holding times in a fixed-bed reactor. Effects of process parameters such as heat treatment temperature from 200 to 300℃, residence time from 30 to 60 min, and particle size from 0.18 to 3 mm on the yield and composition of products were investigated and the results were compared with the mass balances from industrial-scale torrefaction plant at the Arigna Fuels (Carrick-on-Shannon, Ireland). The olive stones of larger particle size produced more liquid and gaseous products than smaller particles in a fixed bed reactor, whereas particle size had significantly less influence on the product yields than residence time and heat treatment temperature. The analysis of liquid products of the industrial-scale plant showed a greater content of heavy molecular products compared to the lab-scale pyrolysis using high-performance liquid chromatography and size exclusion chromatography techniques. New value-added products were developed from the tar compounds produced at the industrial-scale torrefaction plant. In addition, the lab-scale experiments showed that the ash content of torrefied biomass significantly increased with the increased feedstock particle size. The torrefied olive stones briquettes using different binders were tested in a conventional woodstove. Torrefaction of olive stones has been found to reduce the emissions by approximately 60% compared to the non-treated feedstock. This demonstrates that torrefaction has good potential as a cost-effective and sustainable process for the production of woodstove briquettes from low-quality feedstocks

Characterization of woodstove briquettes from torrefied biomass and coal

peer-reviewedUsing waste biomass materials offers the potential to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels. Torrefaction is very useful for improving the fuel properties of biomass in order to better match those of coal. The aim of this work is to compare the properties of torrefied low quality biomass briquettes against coal equivalents. The composition of the briquettes was characterized by 13C CP/MAS, proximate analysis, and X-ray diffraction and the results were compared with equilibrium calculations. In addition to these techniques, we report for the first time on the use of XμCT for characterizing such materials. The XμCT analysis showed that the briquette structure contains carbon, binder and inorganic matter, with quartz retained from the original feedstock in torrefied biomass and coal briquettes. The CO2 reactivity of pulverized briquettes was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. Results showed that the inorganic matter influences the reactivity less than the organic composition and porosity. Importantly from a technological standpoint, the increase in binder concentration and replacement of starch with resin binder did not influence the reactivity and calorific value of a pulverized briquette

Discreteness of Ultra-Parallel Complex Hyperbolic Triangle Groups of Type [m1,m2,0][m_1,m_2,0]

In this paper we consider ultra-parallel complex hyperbolic triangle groups of type $[m_1,m_2,0]$, i.e. groups of isometries of the complex hyperbolic plane, generated by complex reflections in three ultra-parallel complex geodesics two of which intersect on the boundary. We prove some discreteness and non-discreteness results for these groups and discuss the connection between the discreteness results and ellipticity of certain group elements

Evidence for Lignocellulose-Decomposing Enzymes in the Genome and Transcriptome of the Aquatic Hyphomycete Clavariopsis aquatica

Fungi are ecologically outstanding decomposers of lignocellulose. Fungal lignocellulose degradation is prominent in saprotrophic Ascomycota and Basidiomycota of the subkingdom Dikarya. Despite ascomycetes dominating the Dikarya inventory of aquatic environments, genome and transcriptome data relating to enzymes involved in lignocellulose decay remain limited to terrestrial representatives of these phyla. We sequenced the genome of an exclusively aquatic ascomycete (the aquatic hyphomycete Clavariopsis aquatica), documented the presence of genes for the modification of lignocellulose and its constituents, and compared differential gene expression between C. aquatica cultivated on lignocellulosic and sugar-rich substrates. We identified potential peroxidases, laccases, and cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, several of which were differentially expressed when experimentally grown on different substrates. Additionally, we found indications for the regulation of pathways for cellulose and hemicellulose degradation. Our results suggest that C. aquatica is able to modify lignin to some extent, detoxify aromatic lignin constituents, or both. Such characteristics would be expected to facilitate the use of carbohydrate components of lignocellulose as carbon and energy sources

Combined analytical strategies for chemical and physical characterization of tar from torrefaction of olive stone

The advance in analytical methodology is critical for progress in 1) biorefinery and 2) torrefaction product commercialization. The chemical characterisation of torrefaction liquid and concentrated tar produced by Arigna Fuels’ pyrolysis plant allowed identification of polar, volatile, non-volatile compounds, species containing organically bound sulphur and nitrogen heteroatoms. The results suggest that only combined use of ion chromatography with Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry, and 1H-13C HS-QC can provide comprehensive information on sugar-like material and lignin-derived compounds. Due to the technical robustness and short analysis time, Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometer was found to be a promising tool for tar analysis containing heavy molecular compounds. Importantly from a technological standpoint, the presence of aromatic and saturated compounds in both liquid and concentrated tar samples indicated the predominance of lignin-derived compounds over products originating from cellulose and hemicellulose polymers.publishedVersio

Combined analytical strategies for chemical and physical characterization of tar from torrefaction of olive stone

The advance in analytical methodology is critical for progress in 1) biorefinery and 2) torrefaction product commercialization. The chemical characterisation of torrefaction liquid and concentrated tar produced by Arigna Fuels’ pyrolysis plant allowed identification of polar, volatile, non-volatile compounds, species containing organically bound sulphur and nitrogen heteroatoms. The results suggest that only combined use of ion chromatography with Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry, and 1H-13C HS-QC can provide comprehensive information on sugar-like material and lignin-derived compounds. Due to the technical robustness and short analysis time, Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometer was found to be a promising tool for tar analysis containing heavy molecular compounds. Importantly from a technological standpoint, the presence of aromatic and saturated compounds in both liquid and concentrated tar samples indicated the predominance of lignin-derived compounds over products originating from cellulose and hemicellulose polymers.publishedVersio

Associations between maternal thyroid function in pregnancy and child neurodevelopmental outcomes at 20 months in the Seychelles Child Development Study, Nutrition Cohort 2 (SCDS NC2)

Maternal thyroid hormones facilitate optimal foetal neurodevelopment; however, the exact role of the thyroid hormones on specific cognitive outcomes is unknown. The present study aimed to investigate associations between maternal thyroid function and neurodevelopmental outcomes in the Seychelles Child Development Study (SCDS) Nutrition 2 cohort (n 1328). Maternal free thyroid hormones (fT3, fT4 and fTSH) were assessed at 28 weeks’ gestation with a range of child cognitive outcomes analysed at 20 months. Dietary iodine intake was analysed for a subset of women through a Food Frequency Questionnaire. Linear regression analysis was used to test associations between serum concentrations of maternal thyroid hormones and child neurodevelopment outcomes. Thyroid hormones were analysed as continuous data and categorised as quintiles. 95% of mothers had optimal thyroid function based on fTSH concentrations. Overall, the present study shows that maternal thyroid function is not associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes in this high fish-eating population. However, a positive association, using quintiles for fT3, was reported for the Mental Developmental Index, between Q3 v. Q4 (β 0⋅073; P 0⋅043) and for Q3 v. Q5 (β value 0⋅086; P 0⋅018). To conclude, mothers in our cohort, who largely have optimal thyroid function and iodine intakes, appear able to regulate thyroid function throughout pregnancy to meet neurodevelopmental needs. However, it is possible that minor imbalances of fT3, as indicated from our secondary analysis, may impact offspring neurodevelopment. Further investigation of the relationship between maternal thyroid function and infant neurodevelopment is warranted, particularly in populations with different dietary patterns and thereby iodine intakes

A Strategy for Resolving Europe\u27s Problem Loans

This discussion note uses a new survey of European country authorities and banks to examine the structural obstacles that discourage banks from addressing their problem loans. A three pillared strategy is advocated to remedy the situation, comprising: (i) tightened supervisory policies, (ii) insolvency reforms, and (iii) the development of distressed debt market