Does GRID Alternatives Impact Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Targets in Central Coast Climate Action Plans?

As of March 2016, GRID Alternatives’ 179 solar electric system installations on low-income housing contributed 103 metric tons of carbon (MT CO2e) emissions reduction for the climate action plans’ Energy or Renewable Energy climate action measures that pertain to solar electric installations in the cities of: Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Paso Robles, and San Luis Obispo and San Luis Obispo County. In 2007, the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) created a team of government agencies to design climate action plans (CAP) that met the emission reduction goals set out by AB 32 and the 2008 Climate Change Scoping Plan (Rincon Consultants, 2014, p. 1-2). Each CAP outlines its greenhouse gas (GHG) baseline emissions and GHG emissions reduction targets in metric tons of carbon (MT CO2e) and identifies climate action measures to reach GHG emissions reduction targets. The climate action measure that pertains to Energy or Renewable Energy, specifically solar electric system installations, is examined in this study. GRID Alternatives, a non-profit solar installer that implements its Solar Affordable Housing Program, was selected by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in 2008, to serve as the statewide program manager for the California Solar Initiative’s $108 million incentive program called the Single-family Affordable Solar Homes (SASH) program, which is the country\u27s first dedicated solar rebate program for low-income families (GRID, 2016a, p. 2). In 2010, GRID Alternatives opened its Central Coast office in Atascadero to serve five central coast counties and tracks CO2 emission reductions for each installation. My objective is to determine the impact that GRID Alternatives’ solar electric installations in the cities of Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Paso Robles, and San Luis Obispo and in San Luis Obispo County have on their respective CAPs’ GHG emissions reduction targets for the Energy or Renewable Energy climate action measure that pertains to solar electric installations

A Night Out with the Nerds

Simon Singh and Richard Wiseman draw on examples from physics to psychology, to explore the extraordinary in the ordinary in their innovative new play Theatre of Scienc

Four New Vining Species of Solanum (Dulcamaroid Clade) from Montane Habitats in Tropical America

Background: Solanum (Solanaceae), with approximately 1500 species, is one of the largest genera of flowering plants, and has a centre of diversity in the New World tropics. The genus is divided into 13 major clades, of which two, the Dulcamaroid clade and the ‘‘African Non-Spiny’ ’ clade, exhibit vine morphology with twining petioles. I am currently preparing a worldwide monograph of these two groups, comprising some 70 species. Methods: I formally describe here four new species of Solanum from montane Mexico and South America all belonging to the Dulcamaroid clade (including the traditionally recognised section Jasminosolanum Bitter). Descriptions, discussions of closely related species and preliminary conservation assessments are provided for all species; all species are illustrated. This paper is also a test case for the electronic publication of new names in flowering plants. Conclusions: These new species are all relatively rare, but not currently of conservation concern. Solanum aspersum sp. nov

Fast, linked, and open – the future of taxonomic publishing for plants: launching the journal PhytoKeys

The paper describes the focus, scope and the rationale of PhytoKeys, a newly established, peer-reviewed, open-access journal in plant systematics. PhytoKeys is launched to respond to four main challenges of our time: (1) Appearance of electronic publications as amendments or even alternatives to paper publications; (2) Open Access (OA) as a new publishing model; (3) Linkage of electronic registers, indices and aggregators that summarize information on biological species through taxonomic names or their persistent identifiers (Globally Unique Identifiers or GUIDs; currently Life Science Identifiers or LSIDs); (4) Web 2.0 technologies that permit the semantic markup of, and semantic enhancements to, published biological texts. The journal will pursue cutting-edge technologies in publication and dissemination of biodiversity information while strictly following the requirements of the current International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN)

A revision of the Old World Black Nightshades (Morelloid clade of Solanum L., Solanaceae)

The Morelloid clade, also known as the black nightshades or ?Maurella? (Morella), is one of the 10 major clades within Solanum L. The pantropical clade consists of 75 currently recognised non-spiny herbaceous and suffrutescent species with simple or branched hairs with or without glandular tips, with a centre of distribution in the tropical Andes. A secondary centre of diversity is found in Africa, where a set of mainly polyploid taxa occur. A yet smaller set of species is found in Australasia and Europe, including Solanum nigrum L., the type of the genus Solanum. Due to the large number of published synonyms, combined with complex morphological variation, our understanding of species limits and diversity in the Morelloid clade has remained poor despite detailed morphological studies carried out in conjunction with breeding experiments. Here we provide the first taxonomic overview since the 19th century of the entire group in the Old World, including Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and islands of the Pacific. Complete synonymy, morphological descriptions, distribution maps and common names and uses are provided for all 19 species occurring outside the Americas (i.e. Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and islands of the Pacific). We treat 12 species native to the Old World, as well as 7 taxa that are putatively introduced and/or invasive in the region. The current knowledge of the origin of the polyploid species is summarised. A key to all of the species occurring in the Old World is provided, together with line drawings and colour figures to aid identification both in herbaria and in the field. Preliminary conservation assessments are provided for all species.Fil: Sarkinen, T.. University Of Edinburgh; Reino UnidoFil: Poczai, P.

Bestimmung von Hirngefäßstenose-Graden in der Volumen-CT anhand eines Stenose-Modells

In dieser experimentellen Arbeit wurden Messungen an Phantom-Modellen mit unterschiedlichen Gefäß- und Stenosedurchmessern im Niedrigkontrast vorgenommen. Sie imitieren in ihrer Größe Hirngefäße mit einem maximalen Gefäßdurchmesser von 3,8 mm und kleinste Gefäßverschlüsse mit einem minimalen Durchmesser von 0,3 mm. Außerdem wurden zur Untersuchung von Wandunregelmäßigkeiten arteriosklerotische Plaques an einem ex vivo entnommenen Karotispräparat und simulierte Plaques an einem Plaque-Modell untersucht. Die Versuche fanden an einem Prototypen eines mit zwei Flachbilddetektoren ausgestatteten Volumen-CT der Firma GE Medical Systems und einem im klinischen Routinebetrieb befindlichen MSCT mit der Herstellerbezeichnung LightSpeed16 der Firma GE Medical Systems statt. Die Ergebnisse basieren in der MSCT und in der VCT auf einem sequentiellen Aufnah-memodus. Die Untersuchungen wurden in identischer Weise an beiden Geräten durchgeführt und miteinander verglichen. Folgende zentrale Fragestellungen konnten mit den Versuchsergebnissen beantwortet werden: Ist die Präzision der Messung in der VCT dem MSCT gleichwertig, über- oder unterlegen? Bis zu welcher Größe ist eine Stenose in der VCT bzw. MSCT messbar? Mit welcher Röhrenspannung kann eine Stenose in der VCT optimal bestimmt werden? Verbessert die VCT die Erkennung von Wandunregelmäßigkeiten? Anhand der statistisch ausgewerteten Messreihen erwies sich die VCT durch geringere Abweichungen und Schwankungen der gemessenen Gefäß- und Stenosedurchmesser als validere der beiden Methoden. Unabhängig von beiden Geräten wurden die Gefäßdurchmesser überwiegend unterschätzt und die Stenosedurchmesser überschätzt. Auch bei den MIP-Messungen war die VCT der MSCT in der Präzision der Messung überlegen. Die als ursächlich für diese Ergebnisse anzusehenden Partialvolumeneffekte, sind in ihrer Ausprägung verstärkt in der MSCT und geringer in der VCT zu beobachten. Diese Tatsache ist nicht nur auf unterschiedliche Schichtdicken, sondern auch auf die unterschiedlichen Detektorkonzepte und Bildrekonstruktionsmethoden beider Geräte zurückzuführen. Die Abtastung hat in der Einzelschichttechnik Einfluss auf das Entstehen von Partialvolumenartefakten. Das untere Limit zur Erfassung des Stenosedurchmessers liegt in der VCT zwischen 0,1 und 0,3 mm und in der MSCT bei ca. 0,5 mm. Die optimale Röhrenspannung zur Detektion von Stenosen konnte in der VCT bei 70 kV bei einer Röhrenstromstärke von 200 mA bestimmt werden. Die hohe isotrope Ortsauflösung in der VCT wirkt sich günstig auf die Beurteilung von Niedrigkontraststrukturen sowohl mit harten als auch mit weichen Faltungskernen aus. In der MSCT reduzieren Artefakte und Bildrauschen neben der im Vergleich zur VCT herabgesetzten Ortsauflösung zusätzlich die Bildqualität. Entgegengesetzt bisheriger Meinungen, die Bildqualität von Flachbilddetektoren sei zur Diagnostik von Weichteilstrukturen nicht geeignet, konnte sich die VCT sowohl qualitativ als auch quantitativ gegen die MSCT behaupten. Wandständige Plaques-Areale wurden in der VCT detailliert dargestellt, während deren Größe und Kontur in der MSCT verfälscht abgebildet wurde. Sowohl in den Versuchen an den Stenose-Modellen als auch an den biologischen und artifiziellen Kalkplaques konnte der Vorteil der VCT gegenüber der MSCT demonstriert werden. Klinische Indikationsgebiete der VCT könnten zukünftig verschiedene zerebrovaskuläre Erkrankungen wie die zerebrale Arteriosklerose, intra- und extrakranielle Stenosen, Vaskulitiden, AV-Malformationen, Aneurysmen und die präsymptomatische Diagnostik zerebraler Mikro- und Makroangiopathien sein. Die präzise Beantwortung neuroradiologischer Fragestellungen ist von der Spezifität und Sensitivität eines bildgebendes Verfahrens abhängig. Moderne und wenig invasive Schnittbildverfahren wie die CTA oder MRA können in der Auflösung von Gefäßstrukturen an ihre Grenzen kommen. Aus diesem Grund wird bei Unklarheiten auf die invasive DSA als Goldstandard in der Gefäßdiagnostik zurückgegriffen, die aus dem klinischen Routinebetrieb noch nicht wegzudenken ist. Die VCT könnte zukünftig als weniger invasives, präzises und zugleich bildqualitativ hochwertiges 3D-Verfahren zum Beispiel in der Gefäßdiagnostik eingesetzt werden. Bis CT-fähige Flächendetektoren in der klinischen Routine eingebunden werden können, müssen sie jedoch noch einige technische Entwicklungsstufen wie etwa die Dosisreduktion durchlaufen.In this experimental phantom analysis different vessel and stenosis diameters were measured in low contrast condition. Their size imitates brain vessels with a maximum vessel diameter of 3,8 mm and smallest vessel stenosis with a minimum diameter of 0,3 mm. We also analysed arteriosclerosis plaques of vessel walls on an ex vivo dissected carotid artery and simulated plaques on artificial plaques-models. The experiments were performed on a prototype volumetric CT scanner (VCT) equipped with two flat panel detectors from GE Medical Systems company and a routinely used multi-section CT (MSCT) scanner named LightSpeed16 from GE Medical Systems company. The MSCT and VCT results base on a sequental scanning mode. The experiments were realized on both units identically and were compared. The following main questions could be answered by the experimental results: Is the precision of the volumetric CT measurements equal to those of the multi-section-CT or are they inferior or superior? Down to which size can the stenosis be measured in volumetric CT and multi-section-CT? Which tube voltage should be chosen for optimal measurements of stenosis in volumetric CT? Does the volumetric CT improve the identification of vessel wall irregularities? Due to less deviations and fluctuations in the series of measurements of the vessel and stenosis diameters, the VCT proved to be more valid than the MSCT. Independent of both tools the vessel diameters were generally underestimated and the stenosis diameters overestimated. Also the precision of the MIP-measurements with the VCT was superior to those with the MSCT. This finding is attributed to the partial volume effects whose perturbing characteristics are more powerful in the MSCT than in the VCT. On the one hand those facts could be put down on the different slice thicknesses but also on the different detector concepts and the image reconstruction methods of both tools. Also the scanning method in helical single-slice technique has influence on the development of partial volume artefacts. The lower limit for capturing the stenosis is about 0,1 to 0,3 mm in VCT and about 0,5 mm in MSCT. The optimal tube voltage for the detection of a stenosis in VCT was determined at 70 kV and a current of 200 mA. At the same time the high isotropic resolution of the VCT is advantageous on judging structures on lower contrast using hard as well as soft reconstruction kernels. Apart from the lower isotropic resolution of the MSCT in comparison to VCT the image qualitity is additionally reduced by artifacts and superimposed by noise. In contrary to earlier opinions saying that the image quality of flat panel detectors is not suitable for the examination of soft part structures, the VCT can stand up to MSCT qualitatively as well as quantitatively. Plaques-zones on vessel walls were imaged with more details in VCT as their size and outline were imgaged with lower quality in MSCT. The advantage of VCT could be demonstrated as well with the experiments on the stenosis models and on the biological and artificial plaques. Prospectively clinical indications for VCT could be cerebrovascular diseases like cerebral arteriosclerosis, internal and external cranial stenosis, vasculitis, arteriovenous malformations, aneurism and diagnostics of pre-symptomatically cerebral mikro-and makroangiopathy. The finding of precise answers to neuroradiological questionings depends on the specificity and sensitivity of technical imaging methods. Modern and minimally invasive cross section imaging methods like CTA or MRA can be limited by their resolution of vessel structures. If obscurities occur the invasive DSA as gold standard in vascular diagnostics can not yet be missed in the clinical daily routine. Prospectively VCT could be introduced as a less invasive, precise and at the same time high quality 3D technique in vascular diagnostics. Till flat panels are reaching CT capability there are still some technical developments like the reduction of the x-ray dose to be done

Tipificación de Solanum (Solanaceae), especie descrita por Martín de Sessé y Lacasta y José Mariano Mociño

Lectotypes, neotypes or epitypes are confirmed or designated here for 16 of the 22 names coined by Martín Sessé y Lacasta and José Mariano Mociño that were described as members of the large genus Solanum (Solanaceae): Solanum bifidum, S. cordovense, S. declinatum, S. dichotomum, S. diphyllum, S. lanceifolium, S. lanceolatum, S. lineatum (both homonyms), S. longifolium, S. mexicanum, S. nutans, S. sarmentosum, S. scandens, S. tlacotalpense and S. uniflorum. A brief introduction assesses the importance of the Sessé & Mociño expedition (the Real Expedición Botánica a Nueva España) to the botany of their time, and identifies difficulties in identifying and neotypifying or lectotypifying names coined by them. More than half of the names coined by Sessé and Mociño have no material associated with them. The currently accepted name for each taxon is given, and taxa of uncertain status are indicated. Each typification is accompanied by a discussion of the reasoning behind the choice of specimen, and all newly designated types are illustrated.Se confirman o designan los lectótipos, neótipos o epítipos de 16 de los 22 nombres acuñados por Martín de Sessé y Lacasta y José Mariano Mociño que o bien fueron descritos dentro del género Solanum (Solanaceae) o son actualmente reconocidos como parte del mismo): Solanum bifidum, S. cordovense, S. declinatum, S. dichotomum, S. diphyllum, S. lanceifolium, S. lanceolatum, S. lineatum (ambos homónimos), S. longifolium, S. mexicanum, S. nutans, S. sarmentosum, S. scandens, S. tlacotalpense y S. uniflorum. Se incluye una breve introducción explicando la importancia de la Real Expedición Botánica a Nueva España (expedición de Sessé y Mociño) para la botánica de su tiempo, así como las dificultades que entraña neotipificar o lectotipificar los nombres acuñados por éllos. Se incluye el nombre aceptado para cada taxon cuando es posible y cada tipificación se acompaña de una discusión explicando la elección de los especímenes. Todos los tipos nuevos se acompañan de una foto

Lectotipificación de los nombres de Cavanilles en Solanum (Solanaceae).

Lectotypes are confirmed or designated here for the 13 names coined by Antonio José Cavanilles that were either described, or today are recognised as, members of the large genus Solanum (Solanaceae): Solanum betaceum, S. elaeagnifolium, S. fructotecto, S. lanceolatum, S. lentum, S. parviflorum, S. phyllanthum, S. pinnatum, S. pomiferum, S. pygmaeum, S. triquetrum, Triguera ambrosiaca and T. inodora. A brief introduction assesses the importance of Cavanilles to the botany of his time, and identifies difficulties in lectotypifying names coined by him. The currently accepted name for each taxon is given. Each typification is accompanied by a discussion of the reasoning behind the choice of specimen, and all lectotypes are illustrated.Se confirman o designan los lectótipos de 13 nombres de Antonio José Cavanilles que o bien fueron descritos dentro del género Solanum (Solanaceae) o son actualmente reconocidos como parte del mismo: Solanum betaceum, S. elaeagnifolium, S. fructo- tecto, S. lanceolatum, S. lentum, S. parviflorum, S. phyllanthum, S. pinnatum, S. pomiferum, S. pygmaeum, S. triquetrum, Triguera ambrosiaca y T. inodora. Se incluye una breve introducción explicando la importancia de Cavanilles para la botánica de su tiempo, así como las dificultades que entraña lectotipificar las especies de este autor. Se indica el nombre aceptado para cada especie. Las tipificaciones se acompañan de una discusión, explicando la elección de los especímenes. Todos los lectótipos están ilustrados

Lectotipificación de los Solanum (Solanaceae) descritos por Ruiz y Pavón

Lectotypes or neotypes are confirmed or designated here for the 41 names coined by Hipólito Ruiz and José Pavón in the Flora peruviana et chilensis that were either described, or today recognised as, members of the large genus Solanum (Solanaceae): Solanum acuminatum, S. acutifolium, S. anceps, S. angulatum, S. angustifolium, S. asperolanatum, S. biformifolium, S. calygnaphalum, S. conicum, S. crispum, S. cymosum, S. dichotomum, S. diffusum, S. filiforme, S. foetidum, S. glandulosum, S. grandiflorum, S. incanum, S. incarceratum, S. incurvum, S. laciniatum, S. lanceolatum, S. lineatum, S. mite, S. multifidum, S. nitidum, S. nutans. S. obliquum, S. oblongum, S. oppositifolium, S. pendulum, S. pinnatifidum, S. pubescens, S. runcinatum, S. scabrum, S. sericeum, S. sessile, S. stellatum, S. ternatum, S. variegatum and S. viridiflorum. A introduction assesses the importance of Ruiz and Pavón to the botany of their time, and identifies difficulties in lectotypifying names coined by them. The currently accepted name for each taxon is given. Each typification is accompanied by a discussion of the reasoning behind the choice of specimen, and all types are illustrated.Se confirman o designan los lectótipos o neótipos de 41 nombres acuñados por Hipólito Ruiz y José Pavón en la Flora peruviana et chilensis que fueron descritos dentro del género Solanum (Solanaceae) o son actualmente reconocidos como parte del mismo): Solanum acuminatum, S. acutifolium, S. anceps, S. angulatum, S. angustifolium, S. asperolanatum, S. biformifolium, S. calygnaphalum, S. conicum, S. crispum, S. cymosum, S. dichotomum, S. diffusum, S. filiforme, S. foetidum, S. glandulosum, S. grandiflorum, S. incanum, S. incarceratum, S. incurvum, S. laciniatum, S. lanceolatum, S. lineatum, S. mite, S. multifidum, S. nitidum, S. nutans. S. obliquum, S. oblongum, S. oppositifolium, S. pendulum, S. pinnatifidum, S. pubescens, S. runcinatum, S. scabrum, S. sericeum, S. sessile, S. stellatum, S. ternatum, S. variegatum y S. viridiflorum. Se incluye una introducción explicando la importancia de Ruiz y Pavón para la botánica de su tiempo, así como las dificultades que entraña lectotipificar los nombres de estos autores. Para cada especie se incluye el nombre aceptado actualmente. Cada tipificación se acompaña de una discusión explicando la elección de los especímenes. Todos los tipos están ilustrados