The Present Condition of and Potential Uses for Abandoned Public School Buildings in Kentucky

The purpose of this study was to investigate school building utilization in Kentucky and make appropriate recommendations for efficient procedural guidelines in the decision-making process for future utilization. The study was presented in five parts. First, related literature was searched for criteria for guidelines for building utilization. Second, a survey instrument was mailed to the 181 school superintendents of Kentucky to determine building utilization. One hundred percent were returned. Third, one school district with abandoned buildings was examined to determine utilization and to project relative costs of retaining the buildings compared to replacing them when needed. Fourth, based on the literature, the state-wide survey, and the illustrative existing situation, a set of procedural guidelines was developed and mailed to a jury of nine experts in the field of school building planning. The jury rank ordered the guidelines with 100 percent return. Fifth, based on the findings of the study, recommendations were made for the efficient utilization of school buildings. The following guidelines for the decision-making process for future school building utilization were considered significant. (1) Population trends and shifts; (2) Birth data; (3) Population Projections; (4) Long range planning in all educational areas; (5) Bonding potential; (6) Migration; (7) Future building cost as compared to remodeling cost of abandoned school buildings; (8) Cost of remodeling abandoned school buildings as potential school facilities to accommodate projected population increases. The following recommendations are made for the efficient utilization of public school buildings: (1) Coordinated planning of educational facilities with public and private agencies is needed. (2) Enrollment projections should include population characteristics, land utilization, birth data, migration, and employment trends. (3) Abandoned school buildings should be maintained for community use with possibilities of returning them to the mainstream of public education. (4) Careful study should be made by the school districts, involving the general public, when seeking alternative uses for vacant or unused facilities. (5) The State Department of Education should study the possibility of permitting capital outlay funds to be used for renovation of abandoned school buildings. (6) Additional research is needed to determine the process school districts should follow in dealing with abandoned school buildings

The Present Condition of and Potential Uses for Abandoned Public School Buildings in Kentucky

The purpose of this study was to investigate school building utilization in Kentucky and make appropriate recommendations for efficient procedural guidelines in the decision-making process for future utilization. The study was presented in five parts. First, related literature was searched for criteria for guidelines for building utilization. Second, a survey instrument was mailed to the 181 school superintendents of Kentucky to determine building utilization. One hundred percent were returned. Third, one school district with abandoned buildings was examined to determine utilization and to project relative costs of retaining the buildings compared to replacing them when needed. Fourth, based on the literature, the state-wide survey, and the illustrative existing situation, a set of procedural guidelines was developed and mailed to a jury of nine experts in the field of school building planning. The jury rank ordered the guidelines with 100 percent return. Fifth, based on the findings of the study, recommendations were made for the efficient utilization of school buildings. The following guidelines for the decision-making process for future school building utilization were considered significant. (1) Population trends and shifts; (2) Birth data; (3) Population Projections; (4) Long range planning in all educational areas; (5) Bonding potential; (6) Migration; (7) Future building cost as compared to remodeling cost of abandoned school buildings; (8) Cost of remodeling abandoned school buildings as potential school facilities to accommodate projected population increases. The following recommendations are made for the efficient utilization of public school buildings: (1) Coordinated planning of educational facilities with public and private agencies is needed. (2) Enrollment projections should include population characteristics, land utilization, birth data, migration, and employment trends. (3) Abandoned school buildings should be maintained for community use with possibilities of returning them to the mainstream of public education. (4) Careful study should be made by the school districts, involving the general public, when seeking alternative uses for vacant or unused facilities. (5) The State Department of Education should study the possibility of permitting capital outlay funds to be used for renovation of abandoned school buildings. (6) Additional research is needed to determine the process school districts should follow in dealing with abandoned school buildings

CHANGING TOBACCO MARKETS: EFFECTS ON BURLEY TOBACCO FARMS

Three representative Tennessee tobacco farms are used to estimate farm-level impacts of (1) program continuation with further quota cuts, and (2) program elimination in 2000. Results indicate that program elimination has more potential to reduce farm income and that larger and more diversified farms are less affected in both scenarios.tobacco, farm-level analysis, representative farms, Tennessee agriculture, Agricultural and Food Policy, Crop Production/Industries,

Biomass estimations of invasives Yaupon, Chinese Privet and Chinese Tallow in east Texas Hardwood and Pine Ecosystems

Forest understory fuels can have profound effects on fire behavior and crown fire initiation. Accurate fire behavior prediction in understory fuels is an essential component for estimating fire intensity and severity during wildfire and prescribed fire events. This study focused on estimating temporal and seasonal changes in fuel loading parameters associated with the expansion of invasive yaupon (Ilex vomitoria), Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense), and Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera) in East Texas pine and hardwood ecosystems. Fuel loading data of invasive species infested sites indicated significant increases in understory biomass when compared to 1988 estimates, suggesting a clear need to revise regional fuel models. Multiple and simple regression biomass prediction equations were developed for all three-invasive species to facilitate fuel load estimates. These improved prediction equations will enhance fire management efforts as well as invasive species mitigation efforts in east Texas

POTENTIAL FARM-LEVEL IMPACTS OF PROPOSED FQPA IMPLEMENTATION: THE TENNESSEE CASE

This research estimates farm-level impacts of a potential ban on organophosphates and carbamates under the FQPA. Insecticide expenditure and first- and fifth-year yield impacts are estimated for five Tennessee representative farms. Results indicate that within five years, the ban could reduce net farm income on Tennessee farms by 16 to 46 percent.FQPA, organophosphates, carbamates, insecticides, farm-level analysis, Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy,

Preliminary Flammability Assessment of Sea Buckthorn from The Netherlands Compared to Known Flammable Shrubs of the Southern and Western US

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is a common coastal species in The Netherlands that potentially burns with extreme energy levels. In this region of Europe that is experiencing increases in wildfire events, the need to gain a greater understanding of energy released when this species burns will improve fire behavior predictions. The objective of this study was to conduct an initial investigation into the foliage flammability of sea buckthorn to a common southern United States native shrub known for its flammability, yaupon (Ilex vomitoria), and two common dominant shrub species in California chaparral, chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), and manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.). Flammability parameters were evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and oxygen bomb calorimetry to estimate relative spontaneous ignition temperature (RSIT), gas-phase maximum mass loss rate (GP-MMLR), gas-phase combustion duration (GP-CD), volatile matter%, fixed carbon%, ash%, and net heat content (NHC). Sea buckthorn exhibited similar ignitability (GP-MMLR) to yaupon. Sea buckthorn and yaupon shared similar NHC values and subsequent fire behavior outputs. Proximate analysis for VM% and FC% were varied, but low ash% values correlated with slightly lower RSIT’s for sea buckthorn and chamise. Anecdotal information from a 2019 prescribed burn along the coast of The Netherlands highlighted significant fire behavior, and shows similarities with these species in two North American ecosystems

SOUTHERN AGRICULTURE UNDER THE 2002 FARM BILL: A REPRESENTATIVE FARMS APPROACH

The 2002 Farm Bill affects economic activity of farms and ranches in the southern United States. Using stochastic simulation techniques, key financial variables were projected for 39 representative farms and ranches in ten southern states. Results indicate 24 of 39 farms studied have more than a 40 percent likelihood of having annual cash flow deficits during the period 2002 through 2007. Results are largely consistent across commodities and between moderate and large size farms in the same geographic area.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Growth of Hg1−xCdxTe single crystals by travelling heater method under accelerated crucible rotation conditions

The accelerated crucible rotation technique (ACRT) has been applied to the THM growth of Hg1−xCdxTe crystals to grow the crystals at a higher rate. These higher growth rates, which should be achieved by extending the regions of conventional stirring towards the interfaces, have been used in an attempt to explain the results in terms of simple constitutional supercooling arguments. Some different ACRT cycles which fulfil simple hydrodynamic and geometric criteria have been studied. The grown crystals were investigated with respect to their metallurgical homogeneity and their structural perfection. These properties have not been degraded by increasing the growth rate from 1.5 to 8.5 mm per day

A new approach to crystal growth of Hg1−xCdxTe by the travelling heater method (THM)

Crystal growth by the travelling heater method (THM) is reported using a source material preparation process that is different from all methods used before. Non-stoichiometric (Hg, Cd)Te melts were homogenized and quenched to prevent macroscopic segregation effects. Inclusions of excess Te were removed during a first THM pass, resulting in stoichiometric solid alloys with a shift of the mole fraction towards higher CdTe contents. The amount of the shift, dependent on the Te excess and on the equilibrium temperature of the first THM run, was calculated and taken into account in the preparation of x=0.22 and x=0.30 Hg1-xCdxTe single crystals. Source material ingots, as well as THM single crystals, were characterized with special emphasis of the compositional homogeneity. Radial as well as axial homogeneity are comparable with the best results on THM crystals reported so far. The described method can be used in growing all materials for which THM is possible. However, quantitative calculation requires the exact knowledge of the particular ternary phase diagram

Initial investigation of seasonal flammability of three invasive East Texas forest understory fuels using thermogravimetric analysis

East Texas forest understory fuels have become increasingly infested with invasive species which have contributed to greater hazardous fuel loads when combined with decades of fire exclusion and passive management. This study focused on estimating seasonal changes in flammability parameters of invasive yaupon (Ilex vomitoria), Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense), and Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera) using thermogravimetric analysis. Foliage and stem samples were collected in the dormant (February) and growing (August) seasons. Differential thermogravimetric (DTG) and proximate analyses were used to estimate species specific flammability parameters related to relative spontaneous ignition temperature (RSIT), gas-phase maximum mass loss rate (GP-MMLR), and combustion duration (GP-CD). Seasonality played a significant role among species RSIT (p\u3c0.0001) and GP-CD (p\u3c0.03). Proximate analysis VM% was relatively consistent with flammability indices, while the combination of VM% and ash% helped explain some inconsistencies. Yaupon exhibited the greatest foliage ignitability (\u3eRSIT) and combustibility (\u3eGP-MMLR) followed by Chinese privet and tallow. Consequently, yaupon poses a significant year round wildfire and fire management risk. Chinese privets’ greater dormant season ignitability may improve prescribed fire control efforts in mid-winter, but may also pose a significant wildfire risk during drought and windy conditions. Chinese tallow stems’ greater growing season flammability may enhance integrated control measures using prescribed fire in late summer and early fall. In summary, these data further local knowledge related to seasonal and relative plant flammability and may be useful as additional inputs into custom fuel models, as well as assigning flammability hazard ratings for ornamental vegetation within the wildland-urban interface