Sustainable Energy Options for Austin Energy

During the 2008-2009 academic year the City of Austin, on behalf of Austin Energy (AE), and Solar Austin co-funded a policy research project to review options for AE to achieve sustainable energy generation and become carbon neutral by 2020. This project developed methods to evaluate future power generation options for their feasibility and cost-effectiveness. The report evaluates different power generation technology options as well as demand-side management and other AE investment options to discourage future energy use and meet future projected energy demand. The project team assessed scenarios of alternate investments that could be made between 2009 and 2020 that would allow AE to produce and distribute the electricity its customers demand at a reasonable cost while reducing carbon dioxide emissions. This report describes a set of short-term and long-term investment options that can help AE, its customers, and be of use for developing sustainable electric utilities nationwide. The report comprises three volumes: volume I is a summary; volume II discusses energy demand and the characteristics of available power generation technologies; and volume III is a "Future Resource Portfolio Analysis" which evaluates eight energy portfolio scenarios in detail. This project was funded in part by the IC² Institute.IC2 Institut

Fresh water generation from aquifer-pressured carbon storage: Feasibility of treating saline formation waters

AbstractBrines up to 85,000 ppm total dissolved solids produced during Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) operations in saline formations may be used as the feedstock for desalination and water treatment technologies via reverse osmosis (RO). The aquifer pressure resulting from the injection of carbon dioxide can provide all or part of the inlet pressure for the desalination system. Residual brine from such a process could be reinjected into the formation at net volume reduction, such that the volume of fresh water extracted is comparable to the volume of CO2 injected into the formation. Such a process could provide additional CO2 storage capacity in the aquifer, reduce operational risks (e.g., fracturing, seismicity, leaking) by relieving overpressure in the formation, and provide a source of low-cost fresh water to offset costs or operational water needs equal to about half the water usage of a typical coal ICGG power plant. We call the combined processes of brine removal, treatment, and pressure management active reservoir management. We have examined a range of saline formation water compositions propose a general categorization for the feasibility of the process based total dissolved solids (TDS): •10,000–40,000 mg/L TDS: Standard RO with ≥50% recovery•40,000–85,000 mg/L TDS: Standard RO with ≥10% recovery; higher recovery possible using 1500 psi RO membranes and/or multi-stage incremental desalination likely including NF (nanofiltration)•85,000–300,000 mg/L TDS: Multi-stage process using process design that may differ significantly from seawater systems•>300,000 mg/L TDS brines: Not likely to be treatable Brines in the 10,000–85,000 mg/L TDS range appear to be abundant (geographically and with depth) and could be targeted in planning CCS operations. Costs for desalination of fluids from saline aquifers are in the range of $400–1000/acre foot of permeate when storage aquifer pressures exceed 1200 psi. This is about half of conventional seawater desalination costs of$1000–1400/acre foot. Costs increase by 30 to 50% when pressure must be added at the surface. The primary reason for the cost reduction in pressurized aquifers relative to seawater is the lack of need for energy to drive the high-pressure pumps. An additional cost savings has to do with less pre-treatment than is customary for ocean waters full of biological activity and their degradation products. An innovative parallel low-recovery approach is proposed that would be particularly effective for saline formation waters in the 40,000–85,000 mg/L TDS range

WHOI Hawaii Ocean Timeseries Station (WHOTS) : WHOTS-10 2013 mooring turnaround cruise report

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) Hawaii Ocean Timeseries Site (WHOTS), 100 km north of Oahu, Hawaii, is intended to provide long-term, high-quality air-sea fluxes as a part of the NOAA Climate Observation Program. The WHOTS mooring also serves as a coordinated part of the Hawaii Ocean Timeseries (HOT) program, contributing to the goals of observing heat, fresh water and chemical fluxes at a site representative of the oligotrophic North Pacific Ocean. The approach is to maintain a surface mooring outfitted for meteorological and oceanographic measurements at a site near 22.75°N, 158°W by successive mooring turnarounds. These observations will be used to investigate air–sea interaction processes related to climate variability. This report documents recovery of the ninth WHOTS mooring (WHOTS-9) and deployment of the tenth mooring (WHOTS-10). Both moorings used Surlyn foam buoys as the surface element and were outfitted with two Air–Sea Interaction Meteorology (ASIMET) systems. Each ASIMET system measures, records, and transmits via Argos satellite the surface meteorological variables necessary to compute air–sea fluxes of heat, moisture and momentum. The upper 155 m of the moorings were outfitted with oceanographic sensors for the measurement of temperature, conductivity and velocity in a cooperative effort with R. Lukas of the University of Hawaii. A pCO2 system and ancillary sensors were installed on the buoys in cooperation with Chris Sabine at the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory. A set of radiometers were installed in cooperation with Sam Laney at WHOI. The WHOTS mooring turnaround was done on the NOAA ship Hi’ialakai by the Upper Ocean Processes Group of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The cruise took place between 9 and 16 July 2013. Operations began with deployment of the WHOTS-10 mooring on 10 July. This was followed by meteorological intercomparisons and CTDs. Recovery of the WHOTS-9 mooring took place on 14 July. This report describes these cruise operations, as well as some of the in-port operations and pre-cruise buoy preparations.Funding was provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under Grant. No. NA090AR4320129 and the Cooperative Institute for the North Atlantic Region (CINAR

North American wetlands and mosquito control

© The Author(s), 2012. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 9 (2012): 4537-4605, doi:10.3390/ijerph9124537.Wetlands are valuable habitats that provide important social, economic, and ecological services such as flood control, water quality improvement, carbon sequestration, pollutant removal, and primary/secondary production export to terrestrial and aquatic food chains. There is disagreement about the need for mosquito control in wetlands and about the techniques utilized for mosquito abatement and their impacts upon wetlands ecosystems. Mosquito control in wetlands is a complex issue influenced by numerous factors, including many hard to quantify elements such as human perceptions, cultural predispositions, and political climate. In spite of considerable progress during the last decades, habitat protection and environmentally sound habitat management still remain inextricably tied to politics and economics. Furthermore, the connections are often complex, and occur at several levels, ranging from local businesses and politicians, to national governments and multinational institutions. Education is the key to lasting wetlands conservation. Integrated mosquito abatement strategies incorporate many approaches and practicable options, as described herein, and need to be well-defined, effective, and ecologically and economically sound for the wetland type and for the mosquito species of concern. The approach will certainly differ in response to disease outbreaks caused by mosquito-vectored pathogens versus quality of life issues caused by nuisance-biting mosquitoes. In this contribution, we provide an overview of the ecological setting and context for mosquito control in wetlands, present pertinent information on wetlands mosquitoes, review the mosquito abatement options available for current wetlands managers and mosquito control professionals, and outline some necessary considerations when devising mosquito control strategies. Although the emphasis is on North American wetlands, most of the material is applicable to wetlands everywhere.Publication of this article was funded in part by the University of Florida Open Access Publishing Fund

Increasing Concentrations of 17β-Estradiol Has Differential Effects on Secretion of Luteinizing Hormone and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone and Amounts of mRNA for Gonadotropin Subunits during the Follicular Phase of the Bovine Estrous Cycle

The hypothesis tested was that 17β-estradiol (E2) would increase amounts of mRNA for α, LHβ, and FSHβ subunits during the follicular phase of the estrous cycle prior to the preovulatory surge of gonadotropins in cows. On Day 16 (Day 0 = estrus) of the estrous cycle, all cows were treated with prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α). Cows served as intact controls (CONT, n = 4) were ovariectomized (OVX, n = 5), or were ovariectomized and administered E2 (OVXE, n = 6) in increasing doses starting at the time of treatment with PGF2α. Cows were bled for 6 h before and for 40 h after PGF2α treatment to characterize pulsatile secretion of LH and FSH. Forty hours after PGF2α treatment, pituitaries were collected for evaluation of amounts of mRNA for α, LHβ, and FSHβ subunits. Amplitude of LH pulses was greater (p \u3c 0.05) in cows from the OVXE than from the CONT group. Concentrations of FSH were greater in cows from both the OVXE and OVX (p \u3c 0.01) groups than from the CONT group. Amounts of mRNA for α and FSHβ subunits were greater (p \u3c 0.01) in pituitaries of cows from the OVX than from the CONT or OVXE groups. Amounts of mRNA for LHP subunit in pituitaries of cows from the OVX group tended to be greater (p \u3c 0.08) than from the CONT group. Cows in the OVXE group tended (p \u3c 0.08) to have greater amounts of mRNA for FSHβ subunit than did CONT cows. Amounts of mRNA for α and LHβ subunits in cows from the OVXE and CONT groups did not differ (p \u3e 0.10). Pituitary weight and content of LH and FSH were not different (p \u3e 0.10) among cows of the different groups. Ovariectomy resulted in enhanced secretion of gonadotropins and increased amounts of mRNA for gonadotropin subunits above values detected in CONT cows. Ovariectomized cows administered E2, in follicular-phase patterns had amounts of mRNA for a and LHβ similar to those in CONT cows even though secretion of LH was enhanced in the OVXE group. We reject our hypothesis and conclude that E2 has a divergent role in regulation of gonadotropins. Release of LH is enhanced by E2, but E2 reduced mRNA for gonadotropin subunits (tended to reduce mRNA for FSHβ subunit) in ovariectomized cows to amounts detected in intact cows during the follicular phase of the bovine estrous cycle

Effects of 17β-Estradiol on Distribution of Pituitary Isoforms of Luteinizing Hormone and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone during the Follicular Phase of the Bovine Estrous Cycle

The objective of this study was to examine the influence of 17β-estradiol (E2) on distribution of LH and FSH isoforms during the follicular phase of the bovine estrous cycle prior to the preovulatory surges of LH and FSH. On Day 16 of the estrous cycle (Day 0 = estrus), intact controls (CONT; n = 4) were treated with prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) to induce luteal regression and initiation of the follicular phase. Other cows were also treated with PGF2α and either ovariectomized (OVX; n = 5) or ovariectomized and given E2 implants (OVXE; n = 6) to mimic the pattern of increasing E2 concentrations during the follicular phase of the estrous cycle. Pituitaries were collected 40 h after treatment with PGF2α, or ovariectomy (0 h). Aliquots of pituitary extracts were chromatofocused on pH 10.5-4.0 gradients. The LH resolved into thirteen isoforms (designated A-L and S, beginning with the most basic form) while FSH resolved into nine isoforms (designated I-IX, beginning with the most basic form). The percentage of LH as isoform F (elution pH = 9.32 + 0.01) was greater (p \u3c 0.05) in the OVX group (48.5%) than in the OVXE group (45.0% ). LH isoforms I (elution pH = 6.98 ± 0.01) and J (elution pH = 6.48 ± 0.01) were more abundant (p \u3c 0.05) in cows from the OVXE (2.3 and 5.8%, respectively) than the OVX group (1.4 and 3.7%, respectively). Distribution of LH isoforms in cows from the three groups did not differ (p \u3e 0.10). Distribution of FSH isoforms were similar (p \u3e 0.05) among all groups. In summary, removal of the ovary (OVX) resulted in a slight increase in percentage of the basic LH isoform F, while removal of the ovary and administration of E2 (OVXE) in a pattern that mimicked increasing concentrations of E2 during the follicular phase of the estrous cycle resulted in a slight increase in the percentage of acidic LH isoforms (I and J). There was no influence of ovariectomy or treatment with E2 on distribution of FSH isoforms in the pituitary. Thus, gonadotropin heterogeneity does not appear to change significantly during the follicular phase of the bovine estrous cycle

Comparison of Circulating Concentrations of Reproductive Hormones in Boars of Lines Selected for Size of Testes or Number of Ovulations and Embryonal Survival to Concentrations in Respective Control Lines

The objectives of this study were to determine whether circulating concentrations of gonadotropins and gonadal hormones of boars were altered as a result of selection of pigs for size of testes or for embryonal survival and(or) number of ovulations. Included in Exp. 1 and 2 were boars with the greatest estimated paired weight of testes (TS) and boars from a control (C) line. Concentrations of FSH were similar ( P \u3e .10) in boars from the TS and C lines. In Exp. 3, 4, and 5, circulating concentrations of FSH and 17β-estradiol (E2) were evaluated in neonates, during pubertal development, and in mature boars of lines selected for an index of number of ovulations and embryonal survival ( I ) , and data were compared to those for boars from a respective C line. Concentrations of E2 were not different in boars from the I line and those from the C line during the early neonatal period but were greater ( P \u3c .05) in boars of the C line than in those from the I line during pubertal development. Concentrations of FSH were greater ( P \u3c .05) in mature boars from the I line than in those from the C line. In summary, selection for size of testes did not influence circulating concentrations of FSH in mature boars. The secretory pattern of E2 in boars before puberty changed as a result of selection for embryonal survival and number of ovulations in females of the I line, and the different patterns of circulating E2 early in life may result in enhanced circulating concentrations of FSH in adult boars of the I line compared with boars of the C line

Expert Panel Recommendations on Lower Urinary Tract Health of Women Across Their Life Span

Urologic and kidney problems are common in women across their life span and affect their daily life, including physical activity, sexual relations, social life, and future health. Urological health in women is still understudied and the underlying mechanisms of female urological dysfunctions are not fully understood. The Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR?) recognized the need to have a roundtable discussion where researchers and clinicians would define the current state of knowledge, gaps, and recommendations for future research directions to transform women's urological health. This report summarizes the discussions, which focused on epidemiology, clinical presentation, basic science, prevention strategies, and efficacy of current therapies. Experts around the table agreed on a set of research, education, and policy recommendations that have the potential to dramatically increase awareness and improve women's urological health at all stages of life.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/140146/1/jwh.2016.5895.pd

Regional variation in mtDNA of the lesser prairie-chicken

Cumulative loss of habitat and long-term decline in the populations of the Lesser Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) have led to concerns for the species’ viability throughout its range in the southern Great Plains. For more efficient conservation past and present distributions of genetic variation need to be understood. We examined the distribution of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation in the Lesser Prairie-Chicken across Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Throughout the range we found little genetic differentiation except for the population in New Mexico, which was significantly different from most other populations. We did, however, find significant isolation by distance at the rangewide scale (r = 0.698). We found no relationship between haplotype phylogeny and geography, and our analyses provide evidence for a post-glacial population expansion within the species that is consistent with the idea that speciation within Tympanuchus is recent. Conservation actions that increase the likelihood of genetically viable populations in the future should be evaluated for implementation.This is the publisher’s final pdf. The article is copyrighted by Cooper Ornithological Society and published by Central Ornithology Publication Office. It can be found at: http://www.aoucospubs.org/loi/condKeywords: prairie grouse, Tympanuchus pallidicinctus, genetic diversity, Lesser Prairie-Chicken, DNA, mitochondrial DNAKeywords: prairie grouse, Tympanuchus pallidicinctus, genetic diversity, Lesser Prairie-Chicken, DNA, mitochondrial DN