Upper Missouri Waterkeeper v. EPA

State water quality standards developed under the Clean Water Act play a key role in curtailing the negative environmental, economic, and human health impacts of water pollution. Under the state water quality regulatory framework, EPA may grant variances to state standards should the state demonstrate the compliance with its standards is infeasible for a certain pollutant discharger or waterbody. Montana DEQ developed a variance for nutrients based on evidence that compliance with those standards would cause economic harm. EPA approved Montana\u27s nutrient pollutant variance, and Upper Missouri Waterkeeper challenged EPA\u27s approval on the grounds that the variance violates the Clean Water Act. The Ninth Circuit held that (1) EPA may consider the cost of implementing pollution control technology to attain compliance with state standards when approving variance requests, and (2) EPA properly interpreted its regulations as requiring compliance with the variance standard only at the end of the variance term. This note will explore how the decision may incentivize states to engage in a water quality race-to-the-bottom, sacrificing improvements in the name of cost, failing to protect the health of our nation\u27s waters, and further exposing low-income communities to degraded resources

Arnavutluk'ta Profesyonel Müziğin Başlangıcı

DergiPark: 583433bmsdThe instrumentalminiature in Albanian music is related to the beginnings of the professionalmusic composition. The instrumental miniature in general and especially theminiature for piano have got very rich history compared to the other genres ,starting with the first composition of Martin Gjoka “March in D major” for piano. The developmentof small forms at the time, although its simple musical language , shows theeffort to create an Albanian national music. As to the period after the SecondWorld War, the development of music had a new momentum and during this time were created a bignumber of works which were called miniatures. The priority to the miniatures ingeneral and the miniature for piano in particular has got different reasons ,but the main are the creation of a music education system which broughtabout the opening of the piano class andthe necessity of developing a nationalpedagogical and concert repertoire

Bridging Single-Particle Characterisation Gaps of Optical Microscopy in the Nano-Submicron Regime

As the practical importance of particles in the nano-submicron size regime continues to increase in both biomedical applications and industrial processes, so does the need for accurate and versatile characterisation methods. Optical scattering microscopy methods are commonly used for single-particle characterisation as they provide quick measurements at physiologically relevant conditions with detection limits reaching down to individual biomolecules. However, quantitative particle characterisation using optical microscopy often rely on assumptions about the surrounding media and theparticle, including solution viscosity, boundary conditions, as well as particle shape and material. Since these assumptions are difficult to evaluate, particle characterisation beyond hydrodynamic radius and/or mass remains challenging.The aim of this thesis is to contribute to bridging the gaps that limit quantitative optical microscopy-based characterisation of individual particles in the nano-submicron regime by both developing new and improving existing microscopy methods. Specifically, in Paper I a method was developed to evaluate the relation between diffusivity and particle size to enable measurements of the hydrodynamic boundary condition. Papers II-V are based around the development of holographic nanoparticle tracking (H-NTA) and extensions thereof, with the intent of using the complex-valued optical field for material sensitive particle characterisation with minimal dependence on the surrounding media. In Paper II, H-NTA by itself was used to characterise suspensions containing nanobubbles and molecular aggregates. In Paper III, the combination of H-NTA with deep learning was used to achieve simultaneous quantification of size and refractive index directly from single microscopy images, which allowed detection of reversible fluctuations in nanoparticle aggregates. In Paper IV, H-NTA augmented with a low frequency attenuation filter, coined twilight holography, was used to investigate the interaction between herpes viruses and functionalised gold nanoparticles in terms of size, bound gold mass, and virus refractive index. In Paper V, the combination of twilight holography and interferometric scattering microscopy (iSCAT) was used to quantify both size and polarizability of individual nanoparticles without the need of detailed knowledge about the surrounding media. Taken together, the presented results in this thesis provide both new insights into heterogenous nanoparticle systems and contributes to narrowing the gap for detailed optical particle characterisation

Optical characterisation of subwavelength dielectric particles using particle tracking beyond the Stokes-Einstein relation

As the importance of nanoparticles continues to increase in both biology and industrial processes, so does the need for accurate and versatile characterisation methods. However, most light-based methods to quantify size and refractive index of individual particles are either limited to snapshot observations, particles larger than the wavelength of light, non-dynamic particle properties, or assuming the hydrodynamic boundary conditions without experimental evaluation. The aim of this thesis is to partially overcome these limitations by further developing two different characterisation methods based on optical microscopy combined with particle tracking, where the analysis goes beyond the ordinary Stokes-Einstein relation. The first method combines off-axis holographic nanoparticle tracking with deep learning (Paper I). By utilizing the optical signal, both size and refractive index of individual particles with a minimum size of R=150 nm were accurately determined using only five particle observations. The method was evaluated using particles of different sizes, refractive indices, surrounding media as well as for polystyrene nanoparticle clusters, for which reversible fluctuations of the number of monomers could be resolved while the fractal dimension remained constant. The second method is based particles tethered to a laterally fluid supported lipid bilayer and quantification of their diffusivity and flow-induced motion (Paper II). By separating the friction contributions from the tethers and the particle, simultaneous measurement of size and diffusivity enabled a comparison with theory using partial slip as a fitting parameter. This was used to quantify the slip length for different lipid vesicles, and to clarify the size-dependent mechanistic aspects concerning the mobility of membrane-attached nanoparticles

Reusable rocket engine intelligent control system framework design, phase 2

Elements of an advanced functional framework for reusable rocket engine propulsion system control are presented for the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) demonstration case. Functional elements of the baseline functional framework are defined in detail. The SSME failure modes are evaluated and specific failure modes identified for inclusion in the advanced functional framework diagnostic system. Active control of the SSME start transient is investigated, leading to the identification of a promising approach to mitigating start transient excursions. Key elements of the functional framework are simulated and demonstration cases are provided. Finally, the advanced function framework for control of reusable rocket engines is presented

Les téléconnexions de croissance comme indicateurs des impacts des changements climatiques sur les écosystèmes forestiers : Le cas des forêts boréales de la région de l’atlantique nord.

Depuis la fin du 20e siècle, d’importantes baisses de croissance et de nombreuses baisses de corrélation entre croissance et températures estivales ont été observées dans plusieurs régions boréales. L’origine de tels changements, bien que variable d’une région à une autre, a souvent été expliquée par des étés de plus en plus chauds et secs qui forcent les arbres à fermer leurs stomates afin d’éviter de trop importantes pertes d’eau par transpiration. La disponibilité en eau et la respiration semblent donc avoir un contrôle grandissant sur les processus de croissance face au réchauffement climatique. A l’échelle d’un peuplement forestier, l’attribution de ces changements de croissance aux seuls effets des changements climatiques reste cependant difficile car de nombreuses et complexes interactions existent entre le climat, les processus physiologiques de croissance et les facteurs de site (topographie, type de sol, etc.). En revanche, l’apparition de synchronisations de croissance de peuplements géographiquement éloignés présentant des caractéristiques pédologiques et bioclimatiques différentes, traduit de manière plus certaine un forçage climatique de large échelle sur la croissance, tels que ceux induits par les changements climatiques. Cette thèse a pour objectifs de tester si (1) le réchauffement climatique homogénéise la croissance des arbres et leurs réponses au climat sur de larges échelles et si (2) les variations observées dans les corrélations entre la croissance et les températures estivales émanent d’un contrôle de plus en plus important des facteurs hydrauliques sur la croissance. Contrairement aux études précédentes, elle s’appuie sur une méthode novatrice : l’apparition de téléconnexions dans les patrons de croissance comme indicateur des impacts du réchauffement climatique sur les dynamiques de croissance. Elle compare la croissance des forêts boréales du Québec (50°N-52°N, 58°W-82°W) et de la Suède (59°N-68°N, 12°E-24°E), deux régions séparées par l’Océan Atlantique, et au climat fortement contrôlé par les dynamiques océaniques et climatiques nord-atlantiques. L’ensemble des hypothèses est testé à différentes échelles spatiales et temporelles en comparant des données de croissance provenant à la fois de larges bases de données d’inventaires (103-104 arbres échantillonnés) et de modélisation forestière. Dans un premier chapitre, cette thèse étudie la fréquence et l’origine climatique d’anomalies de croissance interannuelles et multi-décennales à travers le Québec boréal de 1901 à 2001. L’origine climatique de chaque type d’anomalie est étudiée par analyses d’époques superposées en incluant des facteurs climatiques locaux (températures et précipitation mensuelles) et globaux (Oscillations Nord Atlantique/ONA et Oscillation Arctique/OA). Dans un deuxième chapitre, cette thèse analyse les impacts des dynamiques nord-atlantiques post-1950 sur la croissance des forêts boréales du Québec et de la Suède en étudiant les téléconnexions de croissance entre ces deux régions, et leurs réponses à certains indices climatiques nord-atlantiques (ex. ONA et OA) et aux températures saisonnières. Dans un troisième et dernier chapitre, cette thèse explore si le renforcement prévu des contraintes hydrauliques sur la croissance des forêts boréales du Québec peut être détecté par une instabilité des relations climat-croissance (observée et simulée) entre 1908 et 2013. Les données de croissance observée proviennent de récents inventaires forestiers et les données de croissance simulée sont obtenues à l’aide d’un modèle bioclimatique de croissance des peuplements basé sur des processus physiologiques. La corrélation au cours du temps entre les données observées et simulées, ainsi que leurs réponses respectives au climat mensuel (températures minimum et maximum, précipitations totales), sont étudiées par corrélations mobiles. La synthèse transversale des trois chapitres indique que l’homogénéisation des dynamiques de croissance des forêts boréales de la région de l’Atlantique Nord au cours du 20e siècle n’a été que partielle. Elle s’est manifestée par deux phénomènes seulement : (1) une augmentation de la fréquence des années à faible croissance entre le début et la fin du siècle au Québec, et (2) une baisse de corrélation entre croissance et températures estivales dans de nombreux peuplements de cette même région au milieu du siècle. Si le premier phénomène semble associé au réchauffement climatique, le deuxième semble émaner de causes diverses telles qu’une respiration plus importante ou une diminution du couvert neigeux hivernal. Face à un réchauffement climatique généralisé (dans le temps et l’espace), l’hétérogénéité des dynamiques suggère une importance grandissante (i) du climat de l’année précédente et de dormance sur la respiration de maintenance, (ii) des facteurs locaux, et particulièrement pédologiques et topographiques, dans la modulation de la croissance et (iii) de la variabilité spatiotemporelle des précipitations. Cette étude montre que la complexité des liens existants entre variabilité climatique et croissance est encore trop importante pour pouvoir prédire avec précision l’impact des changements climatiques futurs sur les écosystèmes forestiers

Retention of stumps on wet ground at stump-harvest and its effects on saproxylic insects

Low stumps represent on their own up to 80% of the dead wood remaining on clear cuts and therefore supply suitable habitat for saproxylic insects i.e. insects depending on dead wood for their survival. Recent stump harvesting activities threaten this substrate of ecological importance and increase the anthropogenic negative impacts on these species. Because of technical and environmental reasons (nutrient leakage, erosion) guidelines for stump harvesting recommend to retain stumps standing in wet parts of clear cuts. However, stumps in wet positions might not be a satisfactory substrate for saproxylic insects and therefore might not be as much used as stumps in dry positions. To test this hypothesis, a total of 100 stumps (50 spruces and 50 birches) were collected on four clear cuts between 5 and 7 years old near Uppsala, Sweden. Stump samples were paired to get a balanced dataset, each pair containing two stumps of the same tree species, diameter and sun-exposure, one dry and one wet. Each sample was placed in a rearing box for 2 months. All emerging insects were sorted out down to order, family, genus or species level according to their importance in the project. Species richness, abundance and composition in each type of stumps were analyzed. Proportion of stumps inhabited, density and Shannon’s diversity and evenness were calculated for each insect order. A canonical correspondence analysis was performed to investigate the possible connections existing between insect species and the tree species and dryness of the stumps. In total, 17065 insects were collected representing 114 species out of which 96 were considered as saproxylic. An overall of 76 and 55 saproxylic species were collected on birch and spruce stumps respectively. Species richness was higher in birch stumps with 11 species in average per sample and only 4 in spruce ones .The results show that the tree species was the only factor significantly affecting both the species richness and the species abundance of a stump. The variable “Dryness” had significant effect on the samples’ species diversity with dry samples harboring a higher number of species. The proportion of stump types used by different orders clearly shows that the tree species was again the main factor influencing the species abundance of a stump. More insects were found in birch stumps, regardless of their dryness, than spruce. Wet spruce and dry birch stumps were respectively the least (7.9%) and the most used (34.1%) substrates. Coleoptera beetles were more numerous in birch stumps but did not show any preference concerning the moisture level of the stumps. The other orders showed a similar pattern with Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera insects however favoring dry birch stumps and Dipterans wet ones. Arhopalus rusticus and Curtimorda maculosa were the only species to show a significant correspondence to a substrate and were associated to spruce stumps. The results show that both birch and spruce support the life cycle of many different insect species and not only saproxylic. As wet spruce stumps presented the lowest biodiversity, it could be thus advised, in a context of biodiversity conservation, to set aside in priority birch and more generally broadleaves stumps.Avverkningsstubbar svarar för upp till 80 % av den döda ved som lämnas kvar vid slutavverkning. De förser många vedlevande insekter (insekter som är beroende av död ved för att överleva) med lämpliga habitat att försöka sig i. Stubbrytning, som i ökande takt görs efter slutavverkningar för att utvinna bioenergi, minskar därför deras livsutrymme. De vedlevande insekterna har sedan tidigare identifierats som en grupp som hotas av intensivt skogsbruk och stubbrytning riskerar att ökar denna negativa påverkan. På grund av tekniska svårigheter och miljöhänsyn, till näringsurlakning och erosion, är skogsstyrelsens riktlinjer för stubbrytning att man bör lämna stubbar i blötare partier på hyggena. Det finns dock anledning att tro att stubbar i dessa partier inte är lämpliga substrat för vedlevande insekter. Målet med detta projekt var därför att testa om de blött stående stubbarna är fattigare på vedlevande skalbaggsarter än stubbar på torrare mark. Jag testade även om mönstret var detsamma för gran- och björkstubbar. Skalbaggsfaunan provtogs genom att kläcka fram dem ur vedprover. Prover från 100 stubbar sågades ut och samlades in (50 gran och 50 björk) från fyra slutavverkningsbestånd, 5 till 7 år gamla, utanför Uppsala i Mellansverige. Stubbarna provtogs i par, med en blött och en torrt placerad stubbe. Inom paren var trädslag, diameter och solexponering desamma. Varje prov placerades i två månader i en låda för att skalbaggarna skulle kläcka fram. Vedlevande skalbaggar och fjärilar artbestämdes, andra grupper bestämdes till ordning eller familj. Totalt hittades 17065 insekter från 114 arter, varav 97 ansågs vara vedlevande. Totalt samlades 76 respektive 55 vedlevande arter in från björk- respektive granstubbar. Artrikedomen per stubbe var också högre i björk (genomsnitt 11 arter) än i gran (4 arter). För granstubbarna var det signifikant fler arter i de torra stubbarna än i de blöta, medan det för björk inte fanns någon skillnad. En analys av artsammansättningen (ordination) kunde dock inte detektera någon skillnad mellan torra och blöta stubbar. Slutsatsen av studien är att de granstubbar som lämnas i blöta lägen på hyggena är ett sämre habitat för vedlevande skalbaggar än stubbar i torra lägen. Att enbart lämna stubbar i blöta lägen är sålunda ingen fullvärdig miljöhänsyn för den vedlevande mångfalden

Strong Gradients in Forest Sensitivity to Climate Change Revealed by Dynamics of Forest Fire Cycles in the Post Little Ice Age Era

The length of the fire cycle is a critical factor affecting the vegetation cover in boreal and temperate regions. However, its responses to climate change remain poorly understood. We reanalyzed data from earlier studies of forest age structures at the landscape level, in order to map the evolution of regional fire cycles across Eastern North American boreal and temperate forests, following the termination of the Little Ice Age (LIA). We demonstrated a well-defined spatial pattern of post-LIA changes in the length of fire cycles toward lower fire activity during the 1800s and 1900s. The western section of Eastern North America (west of 77°W) experienced a decline in fire activity as early as the first half of the 1800s. By contrast, the eastern section showed these declines as late as the early 1900s. During a regionally fire-prone period of the 1910s–1920s, forests in the western section of Eastern boreal North America burned more than forests in the eastern section. The climate appeared to dominate over vegetation composition and human impacts in shaping the geographical pattern of the post-LIA change in fire activity. Changes in the atmospheric circulation patterns following the termination of the LIA, specifically changes in Arctic Oscillation and the strengthening of the Continental Polar Trough, were likely drivers of the regional fire dynamics

Fast and Accurate Nanoparticle Characterization Using Deep-Learning-Enhanced Off-Axis Holography

Characterization of suspended nanoparticles in their native environment plays a central role in a wide range of fields, from medical diagnostics and nanoparticleenhanced drug delivery to nanosafety and environmental nanopollution assessment. Standard optical approaches for nanoparticle sizing assess the size via the diffusion constant and, as a consequence, require long trajectories and that the medium has a known and uniform viscosity. However, in most biological applications, only short trajectories are available, while simultaneously, the medium viscosity is unknown and tends to display spatiotemporal variations. In this work, we demonstrate a label-free method to quantify not only size but also refractive index of individual subwavelength particles using 2 orders of magnitude shorter trajectories than required by standard methods and without prior knowledge about the physicochemical properties of the medium. We achieved this by developing a weighted average convolutional neural network to analyze holographic images of single particles, which was successfully applied to distinguish and quantify both size and refractive index of subwavelength silica andpolystyrene particles without prior knowledge of solute viscosity or refractive index. We further demonstrate how these features make it possible to temporally resolve aggregation dynamics of 31 nm polystyrene nanoparticles, revealing previously unobserved time-resolved dynamics of the monomer number and fractal dimension of individual subwavelength aggregates

Collaborating to deliver value in health care: exploring conditions required for successful healthcare and life science sector collaboration

Purpose: The UK Government-funded National Health Service (NHS) is experiencing significant pressures owing to the complexity of challenges to, and demands of, healthcare provision. This situation has driven government policy level support for transformational change initiatives, such as Value-Based Health Care (VBHC), through closer alignment and collaboration across the healthcare system-life science sector nexus. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the necessary antecedents to collaboration in VBHC through a critical exploration of the existing literature, with a view to establishing the foundations for further development of policy, practice and theory in this fieldDesign/methodology/approach: A literature review was conducted via searches on Scopus and Google Scholar between 2009-2019 for peer-reviewed articles containing keywords and phrases ‘Value-based healthcare industry’ and ‘healthcare industry collaboration’. Refinement of the results led to the identification of ‘guiding conditions’ for collaboration in VBHC.Findings: Five literature-derived guiding conditions (GCs) were identified as necessary for the successful implementation of initiatives such as VBHC through system-sector collaboration. These are: a multi-disciplinarity; use of appropriate technological infrastructure; capturing meaningful metrics; understanding the total cycle-of-care; financial flexibility. The paper outlines research opportunities to empirically test the relevance of the five GCs with regard to improving system-sector collaboration on VBHC