Renewable energy in remote communities

This article is the result of a competitively tendered University-funded project, this brings together two major Government Policy areas: sustainable communities and use of carbon fuels, and is aimed at influencing the policy debate on the difficulties of linking remote communities to renewable energy production because of poor distribution networks. Linkage with the Sustainable Communities agenda is an essential ingredient, as the proposal is that the renewable energy technologies will be installed and maintained by the communities themselves

Cholinergic mechanisms in depression

Evidence supporting a cholinergic hypothesis of depression is presented. First, cholinergic overdrive produces behavioral, neuroendocrine, and polysomnographic features of melancholia, and melancholics exhibit state-independent supersensitivity to cholinergic overdrive. Drugs inducing up-regulation and supersensitivity of cholinergic systems produce behavioral, polysomnographic, and neuroendocrine effects of melancholia when withdrawn. These observations also implicate cholinergic system supersensitivity as a factor in the pathophysiology of certain affective disorders. Cholinergic and monoaminergic mechanisms reciprocally regulate drive-reduction, and substances of abuse either activate monoaminergic networks or antagonize cholinergic systems. These points are consistent with the hypothesis that dynamic interaction between cholinergic and monoaminergic systems is involved in the regulation of mood and affect. Finally, antimuscarinic agents have antidepressant effects. Thus, the hypothesis that supersensitivity of cholinergic systems is involved in the pathophysiology of affective disorders is supported by several lines of evidence. This evidence is reviewed; directions for future research and promising methods of investigation are discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/26059/1/0000133.pd

Transportation Improvement Districts: An Overview for Local Government Leaders

A short brochure that covers the definition and purpose of Transportation Improvement Districts in Delaware, frequently asked questions, benefits, examples, and testimonials.Delaware Department of Transportatio

Paternity Leave-Taking and Father Involvement among Socioeconomically Disadvantaged U.S. Fathers

In the present study, we examine the associations between the amount of time that U.S. employed fathers took off from work after the birth of a child (i.e., paternity leave-taking) and trajectories of how frequently fathers engage with their children and take responsibility for them. To do so, we analyze longitudinal data on 2109 fathers from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a data set that contains information from disproportionately socioeconomically disadvantaged families from large urban areas. The results indicate that, 1 year after birth, paternity leave-taking and lengths of leave are positively associated with fathers’ engagement and responsibility. In addition, paternity leave-taking is positively associated with trajectories of fathers’ responsibility over the first 5 years after birth. Lengths of paternity leave are positively associated with trajectories of fathers’ engagement. Finally, there is evidence that paternity leave-taking and lengths of leave-taking are especially likely to boost fathers’ engagement and responsibility among nonresident fathers. Overall, the findings from the present study suggest that an expansion of paternity leave-taking may encourage higher subsequent levels of father involvement—especially among nonresident fathers

Planning for Complete Communities in Delaware: Support, Development, Promotion, and Maintenance of the Delaware Complete Communities Planning Toolbox

In fiscal year (FY) 2015, the Planning for Complete Communities in Delaware Phase IV project initiated strategic Delaware Complete Communities Planning Toolbox promotion and dissemination to publicize aspects and features of the website and determine what content is useful and which features need to be modified or augmented. This report details the work completed in the 18-month project period between July 1, 2015 and December 31, 2016.Delaware Department of Transportatio

Pollution status, ecological risk assessment and source identification of heavy metals in road dust from an Industrial Estate in Trinidad, West Indies

<p>Road dust in an industrial estate could potentially contain toxic heavy metals as a result of various anthropogenic sources. This study investigated sixteen samples from various locations throughout the Point Lisas Industrial Estate in Trinidad, West Indies. Samples were acid-digested and analysed by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, which revealed that concentrations for Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn ranged from 2.48–5.45 μg/g, 14.2–70.5 μg/g, 15.3–130 μg/g, 219–1330 μg/g, 20.0–62.1 μg/g, 43.5–113 μg/g and 105–1154 μg/g, respectively. Different methods (Geoaccumulation index, pollution index, integrated pollution index, enrichment factor and ecological risk assessment) of assessing heavy metal contamination in road dust indicated negligible to moderate degrees of pollution, in which the associated potential ecological risk was considered low. Principal component analysis (PCA) and Cluster analysis (CA) grouped the heavy metals according to potential sources and indicated that the accumulation of heavy metals in the road dust of the Estate were influenced mainly by vehicular and industrial processes.</p