Studies of the use of high-temperature nuclear heat from an HTGR for hydrogen production

The results of a study which surveyed various methods of hydrogen production using nuclear and fossil energy are presented. A description of these methods is provided, and efficiencies are calculated for each case. The process designs of systems that utilize the heat from a general atomic high temperature gas cooled reactor with a steam methane reformer and feed the reformer with substitute natural gas manufactured from coal, using reforming temperatures, are presented. The capital costs for these systems and the resultant hydrogen production price for these cases are discussed along with a research and development program

Experimental Seismic Behavior of the CFS-NEES Building: System-Level Performance of a Full-Scale Two-Story Light Steel Framed Building

In the summer of 2013, testing of two full-scale cold-formed steel (CFS) framed buildings under seismic excitations took place at the Structural Engineering and Earthquake Simulation Lab (SEESL) at the University at Buffalo. Utilizing the twin shake tables, the two-story building specimens were subjected to ground motions from the 1994 Northridge earthquake. These experiments were conducted as a part of the CFS-NEES experimental effort in an attempt to advance cold-formed steel earthquake engineering and design. Two buildings were tested: the first, a specimen constructed with only structural components (CFS-framed gravity walls, shear walls, floor and roof diaphragms, with OSB sheathing on shear walls and diaphragms); the second began with an exact replica of the first building, but saw the addition of various non-structural systems such as gravity wall sheathing, full diaphragm sheathing, interior partition walls, and exterior weatherproofing. Prior to these experiments, little experimental data existed on full building system behavior for CFS framing. This paper presents results on full-system behavior, specifically examining: drifts, acceleration amplification, shear wall behavior, base shear, diaphragm flexibility, damping, and period of vibration. Comparison to the North American specification for CFS, and design recommendations are also provided

Using soil data to enhance modeling of forest responses to climate change

The over-arching theme of this work is that soil data affect the performance and realism of vegetation models with particular focus on their ability to predict or explain disturbances such as fire or disease. We tested the sensitivity of the Excel version of the 3-PG model to soil properties and applied this information to understanding bark beetle attacks in drought-stressed forests. We tested the sensitivity of the MC2 model to soil depth with a particular focus on how soils affect the biogeochemistry and fire modules of the Dynamic Global Vegetation Model (DGVM). We found in these sensitivity analyses, soil depth, soil water storage capacity (ASW) and soil texture are among the most important soil factors to map and include in models of forest productivity. Chapter 2 shows how soil available water storage capacity has an effect on where pinyon pines are most likely to be stressed during a drought that lasts longer than one year. Chapter 3 shows how ponderosa pines in western Montana are more vulnerable to disturbance on fine-textured soils during years when precipitation is significantly less than in previous years. Finally, Chapter 4 shows that changes in soil depth affect model simulations of productivity and hydrology across the landscape, but fire simulations are only affected in areas with lower precipitation. The value of this research is the knowledge that soil characteristics such as depth, ASW, soil fertility and soil texture can be used in hindcasts of forest disturbances to determine thresholds where forests may become more vulnerable to disturbance in response to rising temperatures or changes in precipitation

Optical properties and electronic structure of β′−NiAl

The optical constants and their temperature derivatives have been determined for β′−NiAl from absorption and thermoreflectance measurements in the energy range of 0.2-4.4 eV. The results are interpreted using the self-consistent energy bands of Moruzzi, Williams, and Gelatt. By comparing a calculated joint density of states with ε2, the imaginary part of the dielectric function, good overall agreement is found between theory and experiment. In contrast to earlier analyses, it is found that the 2.5-eV peak in ε2 is primarily due to direct interband transitions terminating near the Fermi surface. This new interpretation of the 2.5-eV feature is discussed in relation to previously reported concentration effects and the rigid-band model

The Importance of Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major depressive episode following childbirth that can have serious consequences affecting the family. Consequences range from marital problems and issues with child development to maternal suicide and infantcide. Depression in mothers can lead to cognitive and social impairment in the child as well as paternal postpartum depression in the father. Due to the severity of these problems, it is important to diagnose and treat mothers as soon as possible. There are several symptoms that are evident in mothers suffering from PPD that lead to diagnosis. Symptoms are similar to those of major depressive episodes, but they occur 24 hours to several months postpartum. Treatment options for PPD include psychotherapy as well as tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. While these medications have been shown to be the most effective pharmacological options, more research needs to be conducted to establish their effects on the infants. The possibility of preventative therapy also needs to be addressed to minimize the long-term effects of the disorder

Cash Transfers, Early Marriage, and Fertility in Malawi and Zambia

There is increasing interest in the ability of cash transfers to facilitate safe transitions to adulthood in low-income settings; however, evidence from scaled-up government programming demonstrating this potential is scarce. Using two experimental evaluations of unconditional cash transfers targeted to ultra-poor and labor-constrained households over approximately three years in Malawi and Zambia, we examine whether cash transfers delayed early marriage and pregnancy among youth aged 14 to 21 years at baseline. Although we find strong impacts on poverty and schooling, two main pathways hypothesized in the literature, we find limited impacts on safe transition outcomes for both males and females. In addition, despite hypotheses that social norms may constrain potential impacts of cash transfer programs, we show suggestive evidence that pre-program variation in social norms across communities does not significantly affect program impact. We conclude with policy implications and suggestions for future research

The Use of Propranolol in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

This article examines the rising issue of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and possible treatment options. PTSD is a behavioral disorder resulting from memory formation and association with a traumatic event. A search of the published literature reveals several positive studies and case reports suggesting that propranolol, a beta adrenergic receptor antagonist, may be useful for both treatment and prevention of PTSD. Additionally, current studies are being completed in different population groups to determine the overall effectiveness and mechanism by which propranolol is able to provide relief from certain symptoms common to the disorder. This article discusses the medical evidence and possible treatment role of propranolol for patients suffering from PTSD