Petrography and geochemistry of the enriched basaltic shergottite Northwest Africa 2975

We present a study of the petrology and geochemistry of basaltic shergottite Northwest Africa 2975 (NWA 2975). NWA 2975 is a medium-grained basalt with subophitic to granular texture. Electron microprobe (EMP) analyses show two distinct pyroxene compositional trends and patchy compositional zoning patterns distinct from those observed in other meteorites such as Shergotty or QUE 94201. As no bulk sample was available to us for whole rock measurements, we characterized the fusion crust and its variability by secondary ion mass spectrometer (SIMS) measurements and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy (LA-ICP-MS) analyses as a best-available proxy for the bulk rock composition. The fusion crust major element composition is comparable to the bulk composition of other enriched basaltic shergottites, placing NWA 2975 within that sample group. The CI-normalized REE (rare earth element) patterns are flat and also parallel to those of other enriched basaltic shergottites. Merrillite is the major REE carrier and has a flat REE pattern with slight depletion of Eu, parallel to REE patterns of merrillites from other basaltic shergottites. The oxidation state of NWA 2975 calculated from Fe-Ti oxide pairs is NNO-1.86, close to the QFM buffer. NWA 2975 represents a sample from the oxidized and enriched shergottite group, and our measurements and constraints on its origin are consistent with the hypothesis of two distinct Martian mantle reservoirs: a reduced, LREE-depleted reservoir and an oxidized, LREE-enriched reservoir. Stishovite, possibly seifertite, and dense SiO_2 glass were also identified in the meteorite, allowing us to infer that NWA 2975 experienced a realistic shock pressure of ~30 GPa

Social science sequestered

Greenhouse gas removal (GGR) raises many cultural, ethical, legal, social, and political issues, yet in the growing area of GGR research, humanities and social sciences (HASS) research is often marginalized, constrained and depoliticised. This global dynamic is illustrated by an analysis of the UK GGR research programme. This dynamic matters for the knowledge produced and for its users. Without HASS contributions, too narrow a range of perspectives, futures and issues will be considered, undermining or overpromising the prospects for the responsible development of GGR (and threatening worse side-effects), and limiting our understanding of why and how policy demands GGR solutions in the first place. In response, we present policy principles for bringing HASS fully into GGR research, organized around three themes: (1) HASS-led GGR research, (2) Opening up GGR futures, and (3) The politics of GGR futures.We acknowledge funding from the UK GGR programme, under several specific grants: NE/P019838/1, NE/P019900/1, NE/P019951/1, NE/P019668/1, and NE/P01982X/1

Scenarios for the Development of Smart Grids in the UK: Literature Review

This Working Paper reviews the existing literature on the socio-technical aspects of smart grid development. This work was undertaken as part of the Scenarios for the Development of Smart Grids in the UK project

Scenarios for the Development of Smart Grids in the UK: Synthesis Report

Building on extensive expert feedback and input, this Research Report describes four smart grid scenarios which consider how the UK' electricity system might develop to 2050. The scenarios outline how political decisions, as well as those made in regulation, finance, technology, consumer and social behaviour, market design or response, might affect the decisions of other actors and limit or allow the availability of future options

Aviation to Grid: Airport Charging Infrastructure for Electric Aircraft

To decarbonise air transport sector, all-electric and hybrid-electric aircraft have advanced rapidly, particularly for small or regional electric aircraft (EA). However, the airport energy infrastructure for EA charging remains a key challenge owing to the high-power charging demand with highly-scheduled charging patterns. This paper develops an optimal airport charging infrastructure for EA. Battery swap and plug-in charging systems are proposed and compared in terms of charging schedule flexibility, costs and revenue. The novel mechanism “Aviation to Grid†is proposed to enable the bi-directional power flow interaction between power grid and EA charging system. The two alternative charging systems are implemented with different penetration levels of electric domestic flights in five case studies of London Gatwick airport. The optimal EA charging schedules with hourly generation dispatch and EA charging demand are developed. A conclusion is made that the battery swap is more economic when the EA penetration level is lower than 10%. The plug-in charge becomes a cost-effective option when the EA penetration level increases above 10%.EPSRC Supergen Energy Networks Hub Flexible Fund: ‘GREEN Airport - Grid flexibility by Electrifying Energy Networks for Airport (SENFC1-023)’; Department for Transport Transport - Technology Research Innovation Grant (T-TRIG): ‘Aircraft to Grid: Hybrid and Smart Charging for Electric Aircraft’, in the United Kingdom.http://www.energy-proceedings.org/wp-content/uploads/enerarxiv/1607610466.pd

Rapid generation of endogenously driven transcriptional reporters in cells through CRISPR/Cas9

CRISPR/Cas9 technologies have been employed for genome editing to achieve gene knockouts and knock-ins in somatic cells. Similarly, certain endogenous genes have been tagged with fluorescent proteins. Often, the detection of tagged proteins requires high expression and sophisticated tools such as confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. Therefore, a simple, sensitive and robust transcriptional reporter system driven by endogenous promoter for studies into transcriptional regulation is desirable. We report a CRISPR/Cas9-based methodology for rapidly integrating a firefly luciferase gene in somatic cells under the control of endogenous promoter, using the TGFβ-responsive gene PAI-1. Our strategy employed a polycistronic cassette containing a non-fused GFP protein to ensure the detection of transgene delivery and rapid isolation of positive clones. We demonstrate that firefly luciferase cDNA can be efficiently delivered downstream of the promoter of the TGFβ-responsive gene PAI-1. Using chemical and genetic regulators of TGFβ signalling, we show that it mimics the transcriptional regulation of endogenous PAI-1 expression. Our unique approach has the potential to expedite studies on transcription of any gene in the context of its native chromatin landscape in somatic cells, allowing for robust high-throughput chemical and genetic screens

Dark personality traits and problematic smartphone use: the mediating role of fearful attachment

Recently, empirical research has shown dark personality traits (i.e., Machiavellianism, psychopathy, narcissism, sadism, spitefulness) to be associated with problematic and addictive online behaviors. However, their direct relationships with problematic smartphone use (PSU) have yet to be examined. The present study investigated the direct and indirect associations of dark personality traits with PSU via fearful and dismissing attachment styles among 546 participants. Results indicated that men had higher scores on measures assessing dark personality traits and women had higher PSU. Narcissism and spitefulness were directly associated with PSU in the total sample, men, and women. Machiavellianism was indirectly associated with PSU via fearful attachment among men and sadism was directly and indirectly associated with PSU via fearful attachment among women. Findings suggest that dark personality traits may play a contributory role in higher PSU (with different traits having different effects among men and women), and that attachment styles partially explain the relationship between dark traits and PSU

Optimal Scheduling of Multi-Carrier Energy Networks Considering Liquid Air Energy Storage

Energy storage technologies are crucial to the future integrated energy system (IES) in the context of energy internet (EI). Liquid air energy storage (LAES) technology has been widely researched and implemented in the United Kingdom, since there are no special restrictions on geography compared to other technologies. However, there is little attention on LAES in China. In this paper, a linear programming model for the optimal scheduling of multicarrier energy networks considering LAES is established based on the concept of cryogenic energy hub, that is LAES-HUB. The results show that the daily operation cost of LAES-HUB model is 43735.28 RMB, which is even higher than the energy networks works without LEAS. LAES can achieve load shifting through peak and off-peak operations, providing an auxiliary function for energy balance in multi-carrier energy networks

Scenarios for the Development Smart Grids in the UK — Synthesis Report

Research report | https://ukerc.ac.uk/publications/scenarios-for-the-development-of-smart-grids-in-the-uk‘Smart grid’ is a catch-all term for the smart options that could transform the ways society produces, delivers and consumes energy, and potentially the way we conceive of these services. Delivering energy more intelligently will be fundamental to decarbonising the UK electricity system at least possible cost, while maintaining security and reliability of supply. Smarter energy delivery is expected to allow the integration of more low carbon technologies and to be much more cost effective than traditional methods, as well as contributing to economic growth by opening up new business and innovation opportunities. Innovating new options for energy system management could lead to cost savings of up to £10bn, even if low carbon technologies do not emerge. This saving will be much higher if UK renewable energy targets are achieved. Building on extensive expert feedback and input, this report describes four smart grid scenarios which consider how the UK’s electricity system might develop to 2050. The scenarios outline how political decisions, as well as those made in regulation, finance, technology, consumer and social behaviour, market design or response, might affect the decisions of other actors and limit or allow the availability of future options. The project aims to explore the degree of uncertainty around the current direction of the electricity system and the complex interactions of a whole host of factors that may lead to any one of a wide range of outcomes. Our addition to this discussion will help decision makers to understand the implications of possible actions and better plan for the future, whilst recognising that it may take any one of a number of forms.UKR