Decarbonization, Irrigation, and Energy System Planning: Analyses in New York State and Ethiopia

This dissertation contains two collections of analyses, both broadly focused on energy system planning, but motivated by different research objectives in distinct geographic settings. Part I – Chapters I-III – evaluates decarbonization strategies in New York. These studies are characteristic of the primary energy-related challenge faced by the Global North: How can states cost-effectively meet time-bound emissions reduction targets? A series of linear programs are developed to answer this question, culminating in the System Electrification and Capacity TRansition (SECTR) model, a high-fidelity representation of the New York State energy system that characterizes statewide emissions and allows for comparative study of various decarbonization pathways. SECTR simulations indicate that prioritizing heating and vehicle electrification alongside an expansion of instate wind and solar generation capacity allows New York to meet recently legislated climate goals more affordably than through approaches that mandate substantial low-carbon electricity targets. Additional work also explores the optimal distribution of energy infrastructure within New York to meet specified decarbonization targets, along with the value of supply-side, demand-side, and bidirectional methods of system flexibility. Part II of this dissertation – Chapters IV-VII – is concerned with the energy system challenges faced by the lowest income countries. Set in the Ethiopian Highlands, this work first aims to locate smallholder irrigated areas, as irrigation has attendant energy requirements that are larger and more likely to generate supplementary sources of revenue compared to residential demands. Here, a novel classification methodology is developed to collect labeled data, train a machine learning-based irrigation detection model, and understand the spatial extent of model applicability. Across isolated plots of land as small as 30m by 30m, the resulting model achieves >95% prediction accuracy. Further studies then explore the system planning implications of simulated electricity demands associated with these irrigated areas

The Woody Guthrie Centennial Bibliography

This bibliography updates two extensive works designed to include comprehensively all significant works by and about Woody Guthrie. Richard A. Reuss published A Woody Guthrie Bibliography, 1912–1967 in 1968 and Jeffrey N. Gatten\u27s article “Woody Guthrie: A Bibliographic Update, 1968–1986” appeared in 1988. With this current article, researchers need only utilize these three bibliographies to identify all English-language items of relevance related to, or written by, Guthrie

Characterization of a Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus Type 2 Reference Standard Material

A recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 2 Reference Standard Material (rAAV2 RSM) has been produced and characterized with the purpose of providing a reference standard for particle titer, vector genome titer, and infectious titer for AAV2 gene transfer vectors. Production and purification of the reference material were carried out by helper virus–free transient transfection and chromatographic purification. The purified bulk material was vialed, confirmed negative for microbial contamination, and then distributed for characterization along with standard assay protocols and assay reagents to 16 laboratories worldwide. Using statistical transformation and modeling of the raw data, mean titers and confidence intervals were determined for capsid particles ({X}, 9.18 × 1011 particles/ml; 95% confidence interval [CI], 7.89 × 1011 to 1.05 × 1012 particles/ml), vector genomes ({X}, 3.28 × 1010 vector genomes/ml; 95% CI, 2.70 × 1010 to 4.75 × 1010 vector genomes/ml), transducing units ({X}, 5.09 × 108 transducing units/ml; 95% CI, 2.00 × 108 to 9.60 × 108 transducing units/ml), and infectious units ({X}, 4.37 × 109 TCID50 IU/ml; 95% CI, 2.06 × 109 to 9.26 × 109 TCID50 IU/ml). Further analysis confirmed the identity of the reference material as AAV2 and the purity relative to nonvector proteins as greater than 94%. One obvious trend in the quantitative data was the degree of variation between institutions for each assay despite the relatively tight correlation of assay results within an institution. This relatively poor degree of interlaboratory precision and accuracy was apparent even though attempts were made to standardize the assays by providing detailed protocols and common reagents. This is the first time that such variation between laboratories has been thoroughly documented and the findings emphasize the need in the field for universal reference standards. The rAAV2 RSM has been deposited with the American Type Culture Collection and is available to the scientific community to calibrate laboratory-specific internal titer standards. Anticipated uses of the rAAV2 RSM are discussed

Antimicrobial Peptides from Amphibian Skin Potently Inhibit Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection and Transfer of Virus from Dendritic Cells to T Cells

Topical antimicrobicides hold great promise in reducing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. Amphibian skin provides a rich source of broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptides including some that have antiviral activity. We tested 14 peptides derived from diverse amphibian species for the capacity to inhibit HIV infection. Three peptides (caerin 1.1, caerin 1.9, and maculatin 1.1) completely inhibited HIV infection of T cells within minutes of exposure to virus at concentrations that were not toxic to target cells. These peptides also suppressed infection by murine leukemia virus but not by reovirus, a structurally unrelated nonenveloped virus. Preincubation with peptides prevented viral fusion to target cells and disrupted the HIV envelope. Remarkably, these amphibian peptides also were highly effective in inhibiting the transfer of HIV by dendritic cells (DCs) to T cells, even when DCs were transiently exposed to peptides 8 h after virus capture. These data suggest that amphibian-derived peptides can access DC-sequestered HIV and destroy the virus before it can be transferred to T cells. Thus, amphibian-derived antimicrobial peptides show promise as topical inhibitors of mucosal HIV transmission and provide novel tools to understand the complex biology of HIV capture by DCs

Characterization of a Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus Type 2 Reference Standard Material

Here, the AAV Reference Standard Working Group presents the results of their international collaboration to produce and characterize a recombinant AAV serotype 2 Reference Standard Material. The purpose of this material is to provide a universal standard for particle titer, vector genome titer, and infectious titer for AAV2 gene transfer vectors