Annual conference assesses banking risk

Banking structure ; Bank supervision

Would banks buy daytime fed funds?

Federal Reserve banks ; Electronic funds transfers ; Federal funds market (United States) ; Overdrafts

Understanding the Global Energy Crisis

Central issues in global energy are discussed through interdisciplinary dialogue between experts from both North America and Europe with overview from historical, political, and socio-cultural perspectives, outlining the technology and policy issues facing the development of major conventional and renewable energy sources. We are facing a global energy crisis caused by world population growth, an escalating increase in demand, and continued dependence on fossil-based fuels for generation. It is widely accepted that increases in greenhouse gas concentration levels, if not reversed, will result in major changes to world climate with consequential effects on our society and economy. This is just the kind of intractable problem that Purdue University’s Global Policy Research Institute seeks to address in the Purdue Studies in Public Policy series by promoting the engagement between policy makers and experts in fields such as engineering and technology

FIDO-Class Development Rover

A report describes a rover-type robotic wheeled vehicle recently built for use as a testbed for development of software for future rover-type vehicles. This vehicle is a derivative of the Field Integrated Design and Operations (FIDO) rover, which is a prototype Mars-exploration rover that also serves as a terrestrial testbed. The present vehicle was designed to be nearly functionally identical to the FIDO rover but to be built at much lower cost and to incorporate several improvements to increase utility for development work. Accordingly, considerable effort was made to use commercial off-the-shelf parts and other parts that could be fabricated easily and at low cost. Important features of this vehicle include six-wheel drive and six-wheel steering; onboard computer and power, control, and data-communication electronics having flexibility needed for development of software; significantly increased maximum speed (60 cm/s versus 6 cm/s for the FIDO rover); a rocker-bogey suspension with external differential link, functionally equivalent to that of the FIDO rover; and a hand-held remote controller that can be used to control vehicle motion manually without using the computer (or while waiting for the onboard computer to boot up)

In-line characterisation of continuous phase conductivity in slurry flows using artificial intelligence tomography

Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) can be applied to monitor a variety of mineral and chemical processes including: velocity measurements in drilling cuttings and hydrocyclone operations. Hydraulic conveying systems rely upon the knowledge of slurry density to ensure efficient transportation of the solids. Typically, density measurements exploit the attenuation of gamma ray photons which poses complex safety, operational and regulatory concerns with Electrical Impedance Tomography affording a non-nuclear alternative to traditional approaches. To optimise the accuracy of this non-nuclear density measurement, the electrical conductivity of the aqueous phase in a multi-component slurry, is required. Whilst conductivity probes are sufficiently accurate, there are often drawbacks and limitations due to installation restrictions, as it is difficult to separate aqueous and solid phases in real-time. Electrical Impedance Fingerprinting (EIF), is a novel measurement technique which characterises formulation properties, in-situ, based upon electrical impedance sensing and artificial intelligence algorithms. This paper outlines the development of EIF and its application to monitor aqueous phase conductivity in multi-component slurries, containing sands and clays. EIF accurately predicts this conductivity with high accuracy and a root-mean squared error of 0.055 mS cm−1. This development ensures accurate non-nuclear density measurements (<5%) are obtained across an extended aqueous electrical conductivity range of 1.5–70 mS cm−1. This encompasses the majority of target hydraulic conveying systems in mining operations. EIF also enhances the functionality of ‘traditional’ electrical tomography as not only are mineral processes able to be visualised, but the process materials are simultaneously characterised, to improve process understanding, optimisation and control

Aerospike Rockets for Increased Space Launch Capability

The US Department of Defense DOD increasingly depends on space assets for everyday operations. Precision navigation communications and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance satellites are highly leveraged space assets. The launch vehicles that place these satellites in orbit are a major limitation of current space systems. If higher-performing launch vehicles were available, many satellites could accommodate additional capabilities, whether in terms of more sensor channels, types of payloads, electrical power, or propellant for orbital maneuvering and station keeping. Space assets are typically designed to conform to a particular launch vehicle s limitations e.g., engineers might design a satellite to be carried by a Delta IV-2 medium launch vehicle. Essentially, this choice of vehicle fixes the maximum mass of the satellite and, thus, its capabilities. If a launcher capable of placing more mass in the desired orbit were available at similar cost, the satellite s design could allow for additional capability. Furthermore, some payloads are too heavy for present-day launch vehicles to place into a particular orbit. A better-performing launcher would enable us to put those payloads into the desired orbits, permitting new missions and capabilities

Building Interprofessional Global Health Infrastructure at a University and Health System: Navigating Challenges and Scaling Successes

Mission: Global Jefferson will create sustainable programs of global distinction through collaboration that position Jefferson as a local and international destination and resource for education, research, and clinical activities. Global Jefferson is supported by the Associate Provost for Global Affairs, part of the Office of the Provost. Global activity at Jefferson includes: Global Health Initiatives Committee (GHIC) Service Learning Global Research & Exchange between institutions Pre-clinical, translational, clinical, and applied research Poster presented at: 8th Annual Global Health Conference of the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH)https://jdc.jefferson.edu/globalhealthposters/1000/thumbnail.jp

Rabies Management Implications Based on Raccoon Population Density Indexes

An estimate or index of target species density is important in determining oral rabies vaccination (ORV) bait densities to control and eliminate specific rabies variants. From 1997–2011, we indexed raccoon (Procyon lotor) densities 253 times based on cumulative captures on 163 sites from Maine to Alabama, USA, near ORV zones created to prevent raccoon rabies from spreading to new areas. We conducted indexing under a common cage trapping protocol near the time of annual ORV to aid in bait density decisions. Unique raccoons (n = 8,415) accounted for 68.0% of captures (n = 12,367). We recaptured raccoons 2,669 times. We applied Schnabel and Huggins mark‐recapture models on sites with ≥3 years of capture data and ≥25% recaptures as context for raccoon density indexes (RDIs). Simple linear relationships between RDIs and mark‐recapture estimates supported application of our 2 index. Raccoon density indexes ranged from 0.0–56.9 raccoons/km . For bait density decisions, we evaluated RDIs in the following 4 raccoon density groups, which were statistically different: (0.0–5.0 [n = 70], 5.1–15.0 [n = 129], 15.1–25.0 [n = 31], and \u3e25.0 raccoons/km2 [n = 23]). Mean RDI was positively associated with a higher percentage of developed land cover and a lower percentage of evergreen forest. Non‐target species composition (excluding recaptured raccoons) accounted for 32.0% of captures. Potential bait competitors accounted for 76.5% of non‐targets. The opossum (Didelphis virginiana) was the primary potential bait competitor from 27°N to 44°N latitude, north of which it was numerically replaced by the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis). We selected the RDI approach over mark-recapture methods because of costs, geographic scope, staff availability, and the need for supplemental serologic samples. The 4 density groups provided adequate sensitivity to support bait density decisions for the current 2 bait density options. Future improvements to the method include providing random trapping locations to field personnel to prevent trap clustering and marking non‐targets to better characterize bait competitors