Comparison of Organic and Inorganic Solar Photovoltaic Systems

This senior project report addresses the consumer’s need for accurate and easily accessible information when making a solar panel purchasing decision. Thus, the project analyzes and compares the costs and benefits of organic and inorganic photovoltaic systems during their life cycle. The cost comparison includes analysis of the environmental and economic costs of materials, production, installation, and disposal. The benefit comparison includes analysis of the economic, environmental, and social benefits accrued during the system’s lifetime. With the project’s data, consumers can make more informed decisions to fit their specific needs

Regional Integration Processes and Mongolia

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5564/mjia.v0i12.89 Mongolian Journal of International Affairs No.12 2005: 3-

Generative Adversarial Network for Videos and Saliency Map

Faculty advisor: Qi ZhaoThis research was supported by the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

過疎地域に適した単相電力供給システム

東京都立大

Water Quality of Stoney Creek and its Effects on Salmon Spawning

Runoff water in urban streams possesses a major threat in salmon spawning. This has been the effect on Burnaby BC\u27s, Stoney Creek. Sample water was retrieved at four sites, with two along Stoney Creek (sites 1 and 4) and two tributaries further upstream (sites 2 and 3). To begin our research we had formulated the hypothesis that tributaries would have lower dissolved oxygen content due to no remediation efforts being applied and downstream sample sites would have higher levels of pollutants due to road runoff accumulation. Multiple means in determining water quality of Stoney Creek were employed; in-stream water quality tests for dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, and temperature were determined using a DO, and pocket pH meter. Water samples were also obtained from each site and were further analyzed for phosphorous, ammonium and chemical oxygen demand levels (COD) using the Hach DR5000 spectrophotometer. Our last means of water quality testing was through the Water Quality TestKit on samples brought from site 1 and 3. In-stream testing resulted in pH levels ranging between 6.4 and 6.7, dissolved oxygen contents of 10.60mg/L and greater, and temperatures of 9.2°C and below. Accordingly, levels in pH, DO and temperature measured are all suitable for salmon spawning. Samples further tested in the lab showed higher ammonium, and phosphate levels that can effect spawning negatively. Lastly the Water Quality TestKit did not demonstrate very good accuracy, and was ruled to be unreliable. Our results indicate that Stoney Creek\u27s conditions are favorable for salmon spawning, and that there is a strong correlation between temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen

Archaeometric analysis of architectural ceramics form the site “Khustiin bulag” Tuv province, Mongolia

A series of architectural ceramics, including roof tiles and bricks from the excavation site at Khustyn Bulag, Mungunmorit soum, Tuv aimag (province) of Mongolia were subjected to detailed archaeometric analysis. We present here results of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and their potential to determine the composition of brick samples from one excavation site, and their firing temperatures. In addition, yellow ochre, which is a natural earth rock pigment that contains hydrated iron oxide and represents the most common pigment of antiquity, was revealed at this excavation site. The mineral composition of ochres will be determined and the possible use of it will be discussed

Myocardial Remodeling with Ventricular Assist Devices

Most prominent functional abnormalities seen in the failing human heart are impaired contraction and slowed rates of relaxation of cardiac cells in the face of increased neurohormonal activation, sustained inflammation, mechanical and volume overload, and progressive maladaptive remodeling of the myocardium. Mechanical circulatory support devices (MCS) improve cardiac function and outcomes of patients with end-stage heart failure, allowing to bridge to heart transplantation and permitting the removal of MCS device as a bridge to recovery, in some patients with the sufficient recovery of heart function. Numerous reports have demonstrated favorable myocardial recovery and reverse remodeling after prolonged ventricular unloading by MCS. Ventricular unloading by MCS leads to a decreased concentration of peripheral natriuretic peptides in plasma, reduction in cardiac cytokines, kinases, collagens, and proteins involved in hypertrophy, fibrosis, programmed cell death, and necrosis in the heart. This chapter will summarize and review the effects and underlying mechanisms of myocardial remodeling during prolonged MCS in patients with end-stage heart failure. The mechanisms of myocardial recovery are multifactorial and remain to be further explored on cellular, organ, and systems levels

Left Ventricular Noncompaction Cardiomyopathy: From Clinical Features to Animal Modeling

Cardiomyopathy or disease of the heart muscle involves abnormal enlargement and a thickened, stiff, or spongy-like appearance of the myocardium. As a result, the function of the myocardium is weakened and does not sufficiently pump blood throughout the body nor maintain a normal pumping rhythm, leading to heart failure. The main types of cardiomyopathies include dilated hypertrophic, restrictive, arrhythmogenic, and noncompaction cardiomyopathy. Abnormal trabeculations of the myocardium in the left ventricle are classified as left ventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy (LVNC). Myocardial noncompaction most frequently is observed at the apex of the left ventricle and can be associated with chamber dilation or muscle hypertrophy, systolic or diastolic dysfunction, or both, or various forms of congenital heart disease. Animal models are incredibly important for uncovering the etiology and pathogenesis involved in this disease. This chapter will describe the clinical and pathological features of LVNC in humans and present the animal models that have been used for the study of the genetic basis and pathogenesis of this disease

The effect of environmental heterogeneity on RPW8-mediated resistance to powdery mildews in Arabidopsis thaliana

Background and Aims: The biotic and abiotic environment of interacting hosts and parasites may vary considerably over small spatial and temporal scales. It is essential to understand how different environments affect host disease resistance because this determines frequency of disease and, importantly, heterogeneous environments can retard direct selection and potentially maintain genetic variation for resistance in natural populations. Methods: The effect of different temperatures and soil nutrient conditions on the outcome of infection by a pathogen was quantified in Arabidopsis thaliana. Expression levels of a gene conferring resistance to powdery mildews, RPW8, were compared with levels of disease to test a possible mechanism behind variation in resistance. Key Results: Most host genotypes changed from susceptible to resistant across environments with the ranking of genotypes differing between treatments. Transcription levels of RPW8 increased after infection and varied between environments, but there was no tight association between transcription and resistance levels. Conclusions: There is a strong potential for a heterogeneous environment to change the resistance capacity of A. thaliana genotypes and hence the direction and magnitude of selection in the presence of the pathogen. Possible causative links between resistance gene expression and disease resistance are discussed in light of the present results on RPW8