A HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTION ANALYSIS OF FUELWOOD DEMAND IN RHODE ISLAND

A model analyzing household substitution of fuelwood for other heating fuels is needed to clarify the relationship between energy prices and patterns of forest resource utilization. This paper employs the household production methodology to model fuelwood demand in Rhode Island. Data from a cross-sectional survey of 515 households are employed to test a discrete-choice model of household participation in wood-burning and a four-equation system modeling household production of heat and aesthetic benefits from fuelwood and stove capital. Control of selection bias via inclusion of an appropriate instrument allows analysis of aggregate demands. Some broad policy prescriptions applicable to the Northeast generally are presented.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

THE FUTURE OF THE LAND GRANT UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

Since 1980, incremental state and national policy decisions concerning public higher education have had a variety of effects on students and institutions. Although there has been very little research, most of these effects appear to be detrimental to the health of the system of public higher education and to the nation's stock of human capital. A thorough economic analysis of the effects of policy changes on public higher education is needed to guide the system into the 21st century.Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

Under a Pale Grey Sky: An Interactive Timeline of Iroquoian Warfare and its Impact on the Acceleration of American Colonization

Early American settlers thought the Iroquois to be a violent, forceful and barbaric amalgamation of Native American Nations. Their organization of warfare, community, and politics allowed them to remain one of the most powerful nations for many years. Conflict with other tribes was a normal part of life for the Iroquois and the surrounding nations. However, as the American settlers began moving towards the frontier, Iroquois conflicts with the Algonquian begin to rise in frequency. This led to weakening of the Iroquois population and allowed the American settlers to usurp land from the Six Nations without considerable opposition

A Comparison of Vegetation in Restored and Natural Wetlands in the Nebraska Sandhills.

Plant composition was compared between 3 restored and 3 natural Nebraska sandhill wetlands using plot data collected from each wetland in July and August of 1995 along five randomly placed, 25m transects. A total of 126 species were identified, of which 72 were found only in the natural area and 23 only in the restored area; the natural wetlands average 58 species and their restored 31. Cluster analysis of mean cover values, at a Euclidean Distance of 1000, identified five vegetative associations in the natural and three in the restored wetlands. In addition, cluster analysis of combined data indicated a complete separation of the restored and natural wetlands. Ordination of combined data showed a tight clustering of the restored area plots midway along the X-axis (xeric-hydric gradient; Eigenvalue 0.78) suggesting that the restored area represents only a portion of the total gradient of the natural area. Three Basic patterns of species distribution were identified based on the natural area data. Type I species distributions were characterized by Scirpus acutus which increased in canopy cover from being absent in the xeric upland to 18% cover in the hydric lowland. This species, however, was ubiquitous throughout the restored area averaging 2% cover. Eleocharis erythropoda characterized Type II species are both natural and restored wetlands with the highest canopy in central plots of the natural area transect (26%) and even higher (55%) in the restored area. Dichanthelium acuminatum var. implicatum typified Type III Species with a decrease in cover from xeric (11%) to absent in the hydric sites. Type III species were either absent. ANOVA and Sudent-Newman-Keuls multi comparison test of species with a frequency of at least 10% showed significant differences (p\u3c0.05) among at least two or three restored or natural wetland plots for Agrostis stolonifera, Amberosia psilostachya, Elecharis acicularis, Eleocharis erythropoda, Eleocharis palustris, Lysicmachia ciliate, Lythrum alatum, Scripus acutus, Spartina pectinate, Suim suave, and Typha spp.. Based on community-level and species level analyses, the present study suggests that the restored Sandhill wetlands evaluated are not, presently, similar to natural wetlands and that it would be premature to suggest that the restorations are successful. Further, the results of this study suggest that serious wetland restoration efforts must ensure that basic abiotic (e.g. topographic) heterogeneity is provided in restoration sites. The difficulties, and probable costs, involve in ensuring successful wetland restoration should invite more serious efforts to prevent destruction of habitat

Crucial cross-talk of interleukin-1β and progesterone in human choriocarcinoma

Copyright @ 2012 Spandidos Publications Ltd. This article can be accessed from the links below.This article has been made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund.Choriocarcinoma is a highly malignant epithelial tumour that is most often associated with hydatidiform mole and presents the most common emergency medical problem in the management of trophoblast disease. We hypothesise that the hormones/cytokines present within the tumour microenvironment play key roles in the development of choriocarcinoma. In this study we assessed the effects of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) on cell death in the presence or absence of the sex hormone progesterone using two choriocarcinoma cell lines (BeWo and JEG-3) as in vitro experimental models. Although IL-1β induced cell death in both cell lines, the effect was more pronounced in JEG-3 cells, where cell death reached 40% compared to 15% in BeWo cells. Cell death of JEG-3 cells in response to IL-1β was significantly decreased by co-treatment with 100 nM and 1000 nM progesterone and completely abolished at a progesterone concentration of 1000 nM. Progesterone was also able to induce phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in these cells. Pretreatment of JEG-3 cells with a specific MAPK inhibitor (UO126) inhibited progesterone's inhibitory effect on cell death. Collectively, these data provide evidence of cross-talk between progesterone and IL-1β in this aggressive and poorly understood tumour that involves activation of a MAPK pathway and involvement of numerous progesterone receptors.This research was funded by a National Institutes of Health Grant ESO12961. This article is made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund

Rapid Steel Tooling Via Solid Freeform Fabrication

With increasing part complexity and requirements for long production runs, tooling has become an expensive process that requires long lead times to manufacture. This lengthens the amount oftime from "art to part". Rapid tooling via stereolithography (SLA), filled epoxies, etc. have been stopgap measures to produce limited prototyping runs from (10 to 500 parts). This gives poor dimensional analysis and does not allow for limited production runs of 1000+ parts. The method ofproducing prototype tooling with a powdered metal process has been developed that produces tooling with a hardness greater than 35 HRC and total shrinkage less than 0.5%. This tooling process manufactures production ready tooling that will perform extended cycle runs (100,000+). Manufacturing ofthis tooling takes 1 to 2 weeks and will compare favorably with production grade steel tooling. Originals drawn in 3D CAD can be used to prototype the master that will allow for the production ofthe rapid metal tool set. process starts with a rapid prototyped model made by whatever process is desired or a machined master. For this paper a Sander's Model Maker II® rapid prototyping machine was used to fabricate the model. After the model ofthe tool set is made, a silicone rubber negative is cast around that model. After the silicone rubber model is made, a heated slurry ofmetal powders and polymers is poured into the mold to create the green tool set. The tool set is left to cool, and then removed from the silicone rubber mold. The tool set is then debound and sintered to produce a final tool set with properties approaching hardened tool steel.Mechanical Engineerin

POTENTIAL WATER USE CONFLICTS GENERATED BY IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE IN RHODE ISLAND

This study constructs a simulation model to evaluate the potential for conflict among residential and agricultural users of water in southern Rhode Island. The model estimates the profitability of irrigation and turf farms and projects the total use and the economic value of irrigation water. The results indicate that the economic value of irrigation water compares favorably with current residential water prices in the area. In addition, substantial demand for irrigation water is projected. Given current rates of growth in turf acreage and residential water use, there appears to be a significant potential for conflict, particularly given the absence of well developed institutions for allocating water among users.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Underlying modal data issues for detecting damage in truss structures

Independent of the modal identification techniques employed for damage detection, use of measured modal data limits the expectations for damage location. These limitations are examined using the distribution of modal strain energy and the sensitivity of the frequency and mode shapes to structural stiffness changes. For given measured modal information of specific accuracy, this examination reveals the following: (1) damage detection is feasible for members that contribute significantly to the strain energy of the measured modes, (2) the modes which are most effective in detecting damage to certain critical members can be identified, and (3) a relationship can be drawn between the accuracy of the measured modes and frequencies and damage detection feasibility