213 research outputs found
A Builder's Guide to Water and Energy
The work on which this report is based was supported in part by funds provided by the Office of Water
Research and Technology (Project A-Q65-ALAS), US. Department of the interior, Washington, D.C., as
authorized by the Water Research and Development Act of 1978
Solar Energy Resource Potential in Alaska
Solar energy applications are receiving attention in Alaska as in
much of the rest of the country. Solar energy possibilities for Alaska
include domestic water heating, hot-water or hot-air collection for
space heating, and the use of passive solar heating in residential or
commercial buildings.
As a first analysis, this study concentrated on applying solar
energy to domestic hot-water heating needs (not space heating) in Alaska,
and an analysis of solar hot-water heating economics was performed using
the F-CHART solar energy simulation computer program. Results indicate
that solar energy cannot compete economically with oil-heated domestic
hot water at any of the five study locations in Alaska, but that it may
be economical in comparison with electrically heated hot water if solar
collector systems can be purchased and installed for 25 per
square foot.This work was made possible by a grant from the Solar Planning
Office, West, 3333 Quebec, Denver, Colorado. It was performed as the
Alaskan response to a western regional solar energy planning grant from
the U. S. Department of Energy.
The authors wish to acknowledge the support and cooperation of the
Alaska State Department of Commerce, Division of Energy and Power Development,
through whose efforts the grant was made available, especially
Clarissa Quinlan, Grant Peterson, and Don Markle
Hydrologic Properties of Subarctic Organic Soils
Completion Report
for
U. S. Forest Service
Institute of Northern Forestry
Cooperative Agreement No. 16 USC 581; 581a-581iThe need for understanding the natural system and how it responds
to various stresses is important; this is especially so in an environment
where the climate not only sustains permafrost, but develops
massive seasonal frost as well. Consequently, the role of the shallow
surface organic layer is also quite important. Since a slight change in
the soil thermal regime may bring about a phase change in the water or
ice, therefore, the system response to surface alterations such as
burning can be quite severe. The need for a better understanding of the
behavior and properties of the organic layer is, therefore, accentuated.
The central theme of this study was the examination of the hydrologic
and hydraulic properties of subarctic organic soils. Summarized
in this paper are the results of three aspects of subarctic organic soil
examinations conducted during the duration of the project. First, a
field site was set up in Washington Creek with the major emphasis on
measuring numerous variables of that soil system during the summer. The
greatest variations in moisture content occur in the thick organic soils
that exist at this site. Our major emphasis was to study the soil
moisture levels in these soils. This topic is covered in the first
major section, including associated laboratory studies. Those laboratory
studies include investigations of several hydraulic and hydrologic
properties of taiga organic and mineral soils. Second, some field data
on organic moisture levels was collected at the site of prescribed burns
in Washington Creek to ascertain the sustainability of fires as a function
of moisture levels. This portion of the study is described under the
second major heading. The last element of this study was a continued
application of the two-dimensional flow model that was developed in an
earlier study funded by the U. S. Forest Service, Institute of Northern
Forestry, and reported by Kane, Luthin, and Taylor (1975a).
Many of the results and concepts gathered in the field work were
integrated into the modeling effort, which is aimed at producing better
estimates of the hydrologic effects of surface disturbances in the black
spruce taiga subarctic ecosystem. This knowledge should also contribute
to better fire management decisions of the same system.The work upon which this report is based was made possible by a
cooperative aid agreement funded by the U. S. Forest Service, Institute
of Northern Forestry, Fairbanks, Alaska. Contribution to this study was
also made by Ohio State University
Effects of seasonability and variability of streamflow on nearshore coastal areas: final report
General nature and scope of the study:
This study examines the variability of streamflow in all
gaged Alaskan rivers and streams which terminate in the ocean.
Forty-one such streams have been gaged for varying periods of
time by the U. S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division.
Attempts have been made to characterize streamflow statistically
using standard hydrological methods. The analysis scheme
which was employed is shown in the flow chart which follows.
In addition to the statistical characterization, the following
will be described for each stream when possible:
1. average period of break-up initiation (10-day period)
2. average period of freeze-up (10-day period)
3. miscellaneous break-up and freeze-up data.
4. relative hypsometric curve for each basin
5. observations on past ice-jam flooding
6. verbal description of annual flow variation
7. original indices developed in this study to relate streamflow
variability to basin characteristics and regional
climate.This study was supported under contract 03-5-022-56, Task Order
#4, Research Unit #111, between the University of Alaska and NOAA,
Department of Commerce to which funds were provided by the Bureau of
Land Management through an interagency agreement
A Solar Design Manual for Alaska
Introduction - 1
A Short Course in Solar Energy - 2
Daylighting - 3
Electricity - 3
Active Heating - 3
Passive Heating - 3
Solar Energy in Alaska - 3
Availability of Solar Radiation - 6
Alaskan Solar Radiation Data - 8
Solar Technologies - 15
Flat-Plate Solar Collectors - 16
Evacuated-Tube Collectors - 17
Concentrating Collectors - 17
Comparing Active Systems - 18
Costs - 18
Matching Collector to Applications - 18
Passive Solar Space Heating - 18
Heat Gain Through Glazing - 18
Heat Loss Through Glazing - 18
Thermal Storage - 19
Photovoltaic or Photoelectric Cells - 19
Energy Storage - 23
Water and Water Tanks - 23
Rocks and Rock Bins - 23
Phase-Change Materials and Containers - 24
Advantages and Disadvantages - 24
Seasonal Storage - 24
Storage of Photovoltaic Electricity - 25
Active Solar Water Heating - 27
Computer Simulation - 28
Sizing the Active System by Computer - 29
Sizing the Active System by Hand - 41
Determining Collector Performance Per Square Foot - 42
Sizing the Collector - 45
Conclusions - 45
Geometry of Solar Collection in Alaska - 45
Shading and Topography - 47
Snow Cover Effects - 47
Sun Path Diagrams - 48
Active Solar Space Heating - 61
Overview - 62
Sources of Further Information - 67
Passive Solar Space Heating - 69
Computer Simulation - 70
Night Insulation (Shutters) - 70
Analysis of Parameters - 71
The Problem of Thermal Shutters - 74
Effects of Climate - 75
Performance of "Classic" Passive Designs in Alaska - 75
Computer Simulation of Design Options - 75
Information from the Passive Solar Design Manual - 89
Simplified Sizing Procedures for the Design Development Phase - 89
Detailed Estimates for the Construction Documents Phase - 89
Economic Analysis- 89
Direct Gain Passive Solar Design - 90
Absorptance - 90
Wind Speed and Spacing of Glazing - 91
Effect of Overhangs - 92
Effect of Ground Reflections - 93
Estimating the Building Load Coefficient - 93
Quick and Dirty Heating Load Estimate - 94
Calculating the Building Load Coefficient - 94
Example: Building Load Coefficient - 97
Infiltration - 98
Analysis of Passive Solar Gain - 99
Monthly Solar Savings - 99
Annual Solar Savings Fraction - 105
Example: Design Calculations for a Passive Solar Building - 105
Economic Analysis of Passive Solar Applications - 106
Introduction - 106
Life Cycle Cost Equation - 107
Cost Evaluation - 110
Categorization of Costs - 110
Passive Cost Estimation - 110
Envelope Cost Estimation - 111
Conventional Cost Estimation - 111
Final Passive Add-On Cost Estimates - 111
Cost Optimization - 111
Example: Passive Solar Cost Estimation - 115
Literature Cited - 119
Appendices - 121
Appendix A: Analysis Methods for Solar Heating and Cooling Applications - 123
Appendix B: SOLMET Radiation Data - 127
Appendix C: A Glossary of Terms - 133
Appendix D: Insulation Values for Various Types of Construction - 139
Appendix E: Passive Solar Design Correction Factors - 141
Appendix F: Possible Solar Radiation at Various Locations and Latitudes - 151
Appendix G: Worksheets for Passive Solar Design Problems - 157
Index - 16
LBT/LUCIFER Observations of the z~2 Lensed Galaxy J0900+2234
We present rest-frame optical images and spectra of the gravitationally
lensed, star-forming galaxy J0900+2234 (z=2.03). The observations were
performed with the newly commissioned LUCIFER1 near-infrared instrument mounted
on the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT). We fit lens models to the rest-frame
optical images and find the galaxy has an intrinsic effective radius of 7.4 kpc
with a lens magnification factor of about 5 for the A and B components. We also
discovered a new arc belonging to another lensed high-z source galaxy, which
makes this lens system a potential double Einstein ring system. Using the high
S/N rest-frame optical spectra covering H+K band, we detected Hbeta, OIII,
Halpha, NII and SII emission lines. Detailed physical properties of this high-z
galaxy were derived. The extinction towards the ionized HII regions (E_g(B-V))
is computed from the flux ratio of Halpha and Hbeta and appears to be much
higher than that towards stellar continuum (E_s(B-V)), derived from the optical
and NIR broad band photometry fitting. The metallicity was estimated using N2
and O3N2 indices. It is in the range of 1/5-1/3 solar abundance, which is much
lower than the typical z~2 star-forming galaxies. From the flux ratio of SII
6717 and 6732, we found that the electron number density of the HII regions in
the high-z galaxy were >1000 cm^-3, consistent with other z~2 galaxies but much
higher than that in local HII regions. The star-formation rate was estimated
via the Halpha luminosity, after correction for the lens magnification, to be
about 365\pm69 Msun/yr. Combining the FWHM of Halpha emission lines and the
half-light radius, we found the dynamical mass of the lensed galaxy is
5.8\pm0.9x10^10 Msun. The gas mass is 5.1\pm1.1x10^10~Msun from the H\alpha
flux surface density by using global Kennicutt-Schmidt Law, indicating a very
high gas fraction of 0.79\pm0.19 in J0900+2234.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures accepted by ApJ, revised based on referee repor
Alternative splicing regulates stochastic NLRP3 activity
Leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domains are evolutionarily conserved in proteins that function in development and immunity. Here we report strict exonic modularity of LRR domains of several human gene families, which is a precondition for alternative splicing (AS). We provide evidence for AS of LRR domain within several Nod-like receptors, most prominently the inflammasome sensor NLRP3. Human NLRP3, but not mouse NLRP3, is expressed as two major isoforms, the full-length variant and a variant lacking exon 5. Moreover, NLRP3 AS is stochastically regulated, with NLRP3. exon 5 lacking the interaction surface for NEK7 and hence loss of activity. Our data thus reveals unexpected regulatory roles of AS through differential utilization of LRRs modules in vertebrate innate immunity
Comparison of F(ab') versus Fab antivenom for pit viper envenomation: A prospective, blinded, multicenter, randomized clinical trial
BACKGROUND:
Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab (Ovine) has been the only antivenom commercially available in the US since 2007 for treatment of Crotalinae envenomation. Late coagulopathy can occur or recur after clearance of Fab antivenom, often after hospital discharge, lasting in some cases more than 2 weeks. There have been serious, even fatal, bleeding complications associated with recurrence phenomena. Frequent follow-up is required, and additional intervention or hospitalization is often necessary. F(ab')2 immunoglobulin derivatives have longer plasma half life than do Fab. We hypothesized that F(ab')2 antivenom would be superior to Fab in the prevention of late coagulopathy following treatment of patients with Crotalinae envenomation.
METHODS:
We conducted a prospective, double-blind, randomized clinical trial, comparing late coagulopathy in snakebitten patients treated with F(ab')2 with maintenance doses [F(ab')2/F(ab')2], or F(ab')2 with placebo maintenance doses [F(ab')2/placebo], versus Fab with maintenance doses [Fab/Fab]. The primary efficacy endpoint was coagulopathy (platelet count < 150 K/mm(3), fibrinogen level < 150 mg/dL) between end of maintenance dosing and day 8.
RESULTS:
121 patients were randomized at 18 clinical sites and received at least one dose of study drug. 114 completed the study. Of these, 11/37 (29.7%) in the Fab/Fab cohort experienced late coagulopathy versus 4/39 (10.3%, p < 0.05) in the F(ab')2/F(ab')2 cohort and 2/38 (5.3%, p < 0.05) in the F(ab')2/placebo cohort. The lowest heterologous protein exposure was with F(ab')2/placebo. No serious adverse events were related to study drug. In each study arm, one patient experienced an acute serum reaction and one experienced serum sickness.
CONCLUSIONS:
In this study, management of coagulopathic Crotalinae envenomation with longer-half-life F(ab')2 antivenom, with or without maintenance dosing, reduced the risk of subacute coagulopathy and bleeding following treatment of envenomation
Report drawn up on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs on the proposal from the Commission of the European Communities to the Council (Doc. 1-99/83-COM(83) 85 final) for a Council Decision implementing the decision empowering the Commission to borrow under the New Community Instrument for the purpose of promoting investment within the Community, Working Documents 1983-1984, Document 1-236/83, 3 May 1983
The 4MOST([1]) instrument is a concept for a wide-field, fibre-fed high multiplex spectroscopic instrument facility on the ESO VISTA telescope designed to perform a massive (initially >25x10(6) spectra in 5 years) combined all-sky public survey. The main science drivers are: Gaia follow up of chemo-dynamical structure of the Milky Way, stellar radial velocities, parameters and abundances, chemical tagging; eROSITA follow up of cosmology with x-ray clusters of galaxies, X-ray AGN/galaxy evolution to z similar to 5, Galactic X-ray sources and resolving the Galactic edge; Euclid/LSST/SKA and other survey follow up of Dark Energy, Galaxy evolution and transients. The surveys will be undertaken simultaneously requiring: highly advanced targeting and scheduling software, also comprehensive data reduction and analysis tools to produce high-level data products. The instrument will allow simultaneous observations of similar to 1600 targets at R similar to 5,000 from 390-900nm and similar to 800 targets at R>18,000 in three channels between similar to 395-675nm (channel bandwidth: 45nm blue, 57nm green and 69nm red) over a hexagonal field of view of similar to 4.1 degrees2. The initial 5-year 4MOST survey is currently expect to start in 2020. We provide and overview of the 4MOST systems: opto-mechanical, control, data management and operations concepts; and initial performance estimates
Unified treatment algorithm for the management of crotaline snakebite in the United States: results of an evidence-informed consensus workshop
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Envenomation by crotaline snakes (rattlesnake, cottonmouth, copperhead) is a complex, potentially lethal condition affecting thousands of people in the United States each year. Treatment of crotaline envenomation is not standardized, and significant variation in practice exists.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A geographically diverse panel of experts was convened for the purpose of deriving an evidence-informed unified treatment algorithm. Research staff analyzed the extant medical literature and performed targeted analyses of existing databases to inform specific clinical decisions. A trained external facilitator used modified Delphi and structured consensus methodology to achieve consensus on the final treatment algorithm.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A unified treatment algorithm was produced and endorsed by all nine expert panel members. This algorithm provides guidance about clinical and laboratory observations, indications for and dosing of antivenom, adjunctive therapies, post-stabilization care, and management of complications from envenomation and therapy.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Clinical manifestations and ideal treatment of crotaline snakebite differ greatly, and can result in severe complications. Using a modified Delphi method, we provide evidence-informed treatment guidelines in an attempt to reduce variation in care and possibly improve clinical outcomes.</p
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