Grass Pellet Bioenergy in the Northeastern USA

Grass pellets are a renewable energy supply that combines low technology/small-scale with local production/consumption for a cost effective energy system. There have been significant recent advances in pellet furnace technology and some pellet stove manufacturers now claim their stoves are capable of burning biomass with 5-6% ash content. Cool-season grasses have not been considered acceptable for pelleting and direct combustion in the past due to high ash content. Rain after harvest, however, has been shown to leach significant amounts of potassium and chlorine from grass (Sander, 1997). High yields are possible under lax harvest management (Cherney et al., 2003), producing grass biomass with potassium content as low as 0.5%. Ash content of cool-season grasses is dependent on species, plant maturity, soil type, leaching before and after cutting, loss of high-ash plant parts, and soil contamination. Our objective was to develop a strategy for practical commercial production of relatively low ash cool-season grass biomass

Continuing to Advance Warranting Theory: Weight, Time, and Testing the Warranting Value Scale

Warranting theory asserts that individuals are likely to form impressions of others based on information found online that is not easily manipulated by the target of the information. Because existing literature has found inconsistent support for warranting theory, this dissertation conducted a study of warranting theory both through using traditional warranting theory ideas and through testing the possibility of other variables playing a role in the impression formation process. Participants (N = 330) viewed mock websites with information about a professor and then reported on their impressions of the website and the instructor. About 18 days later, participants completed a delayed questionnaire about their impressions of the instructor. Modeling the first set of hypotheses after traditional tests of warranting theory, this dissertation found support for warranting theory. Other-generated content was associated with higher perceived warranting value than self-generated content; a connection that was assumed, but never explicitly tested in existing literature. The role of perceived warranting value in the relationship between source and impression was partially supported, while support was not found for the weight, or importance, of information within the relationship between source and impression. Over time, impressions converged, consistent with sleeper effect literature

Influence of Grass Species and Sample Preparation on Ensiling Characteristics

Laboratory silos are considered a practical method of comparing a number of treatments (O\u27Kiely, 1993). Cherney et al. (2004) reported that vacuum-sealed polyethylene bags effectively ensiled corn silage samples in the laboratory. Grasses, with their inherently higher buffering capacities and lower sugar levels, generally are more difficult to ensile. Objectives were to evaluate the influence of species and chopping (whole vs. shredded) on pH and volatile fatty acid profile of grasses ensiled in vacuum-sealed polyethylene bags and to assess the suitability of this method as a laboratory ensiling method

Evaluation of Narrow-Row Forage Maize in Field-Scale Studies

Some dairy producers in the north-eastern USA adopted narrow row (0.38 m) maize forage production in the mid-1990s because of its 5% dry matter (DM) yield advantage (Cox et al., 1998). These dairy producers, however, continued to plant forage maize at high plant densities (125,000 plants/ha) under high N fertility (225 kg N/ha), despite research that indicated that forage maize had optimum DM yields and forage quality when planted at the recommended 100,000 plants/ha under 175 kg/ha of N fertility (Cox & Cherney, 2001). We evaluated forage maize at 0.38 and 0.76 m (conventional) row spacing under recommended vs. high plant densities and N fertility on a large dairy farm in New York. The objective of the study was to demonstrate to dairy producers that narrow-row forage maize does not require high plant densities and N fertility for optimum DM yield and forage quality

Energy gap measurement of nanostructured thin aluminium films for use in single Cooper-pair devices

Within the context of superconducting gap engineering, Al-\alox-Al tunnel junctions have been used to study the variation in superconducting gap, $\Delta$, with film thickness. Films of thickness 5, 7, 10 and 30 nm were used to form the small area superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) tunnel junctions. In agreement with previous measurements we have observed an increase in the superconducting energy gap of aluminium with a decrease in film thickness. In addition, we find grain size in small area films with thickness \textbf{$\geq$} 10 nm has no appreciable effect on energy gap. Finally, we utilize 7 and 30 nm films in a single Cooper-pair transistor, and observe the modification of the finite bias transport processes due to the engineered gap profile

Outcomes from an intensive comprehensive aphasia program (ICAP): A retrospective look

Intensive comprehensive aphasia programs (ICAPs) are increasingly sought-after by consumers. It is important to examine outcomes from this unique clinical service model to determine feasibility, effectiveness, and potentially, to determine profiles of patient recovery. This poster presents retrospective data from first time participants in one ICAP over a 5 year period. Findings demonstrate significant improvements on language and activity/participation measures from pre-treatment to post-treatment

Impact of Personalization on Acquisition and Generalization of Script Training: A Preliminary Analysis

Eight individuals with chronic aphasia underwent intensive computer-based script training. Trained and untrained generalization scripts, matched for length and complexity, were developed. The two scripts shared personalized and non-personalized words/phrases. Training lasted three weeks. Script performance was probed periodically. For acquisition, the gain from baseline to post-treatment for both personalized and non-personalized words/phrases on the trained script was significant; the effect size of personalization over non-personalization was moderate. For generalization, the gain for both personalized and non-personalized items was also significant, but the effect size of personalization over non-personalization was small. Limitations of the study are discussed

Structure of the C-terminal domain of the arginine repressor protein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The structure of the core domain of the arginine repressor protein from M. tuberculosis has been determined with (1.85 Å resolution) and without (2.15 Å resolution) the arginine corepressor bound. Three additional arginine molecules have been found to bind to the core domain hexamer at high (0.2 M) arginine concentration

Climbing favours the tripod gait over alternative faster insect gaits.

To escape danger or catch prey, running vertebrates rely on dynamic gaits with minimal ground contact. By contrast, most insects use a tripod gait that maintains at least three legs on the ground at any given time. One prevailing hypothesis for this difference in fast locomotor strategies is that tripod locomotion allows insects to rapidly navigate three-dimensional terrain. To test this, we computationally discovered fast locomotor gaits for a model based on Drosophila melanogaster. Indeed, the tripod gait emerges to the exclusion of many other possible gaits when optimizing fast upward climbing with leg adhesion. By contrast, novel two-legged bipod gaits are fastest on flat terrain without adhesion in the model and in a hexapod robot. Intriguingly, when adhesive leg structures in real Drosophila are covered, animals exhibit atypical bipod-like leg coordination. We propose that the requirement to climb vertical terrain may drive the prevalence of the tripod gait over faster alternative gaits with minimal ground contact

Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Programs: An International Survey of Practice

Background: In response to the need to simultaneously address multiple domains of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in aphasia therapy and to incorporate intensive treatment doses consistent with principles of neuroplasticity, a potentially potent treatment option termed intensive comprehensive aphasia programs (ICAPs) has been developed. Objective: To conduct an international survey of ICAPs to determine the extent of their use and to explore current ICAP practices. Methods: A 32-item online survey was distributed internationally through Survey Monkey between May and August 2012. The survey addressed ICAP staffing, philosophy, values, funding, admission criteria, activities, family involvement, outcome measures, and factors considered important to success. Results: Twelve ICAPs responded: 8 from the United States, 2 from Canada, and 1 each from Australia and the United Kingdom. The majority of ICAPs are affiliated with university programs and are funded through participant self-pay. ICAPs emphasize individualized treatment goals and evidence-based practices, with a focus on applying the principles of neuroplasticity related to repetition and intensity of treatment. On average, 6 people with aphasia attend each ICAP, for 4 days per week for 4 weeks, receiving about 100 hours of individual, group, and computer-based treatment. Speech-language pathologists, students, and volunteers staff the majority of ICAPs. Conclusions: ICAPs are increasing in number but remain a rare service delivery option. They address the needs of individuals who want access to intensive treatment and are interested in making significant changes to their communication skills and psychosocial well-being in a short period of time. Their efficacy and cost-effectiveness require future investigation