Market Area Modeling and Network Analysis of an Agricultural Cooperative System Using a Geographic Information System

Higher Education/ Geograph

Efficient Manufacture of Emulsion Intermediates in Cavity-design Mixers

Emulsions are ubiquitous across the process industries and are often utilised in applications where controlled delivery of a key ingredient (e.g. an oil or water soluble compound) is an important consideration. Their functional properties e.g. the rate of absorption or coverage of a surface is generally determined by the size and size distribution of dispersed domains or microstructure. Control over the formulation, process route and type of equipment all influence the resulting microstructure. The focus of this thesis is the development of process strategies for the efficient manufacture of emulsions in novel cavity-design mixers utilising the Controlled Deformation Dynamic Mixer (CDDM). The CDDM comprises a cylindrical rotor-stator design with opposing surfaces with embedded cavities. The novel design allows flexible operation and optimisation across the spectrum of process space, defined by dispersive and/or distributive mixers. The process strategies are empirically demonstrated across several oil/surfactant types and the impact of emulsion composition, mixer geometry and process methods are studied. The resulting emulsions are assessed via light scattering measurement of the droplet domain sizes and interfacial areas. The link between microstructure and product viscosity is discussed. An important output of this work was the development of an emulsification efficiency parameter. The parameter provides a useful analytical tool for evaluating the process strategies and is used to provide insights into how the implementation of the in-line emulsification of high internal phase emulsion strategies could provide commercial opportunities via emulsifier raw materials saving and development of small footprint processes

Spatial Microsimulation for Regional Analysis of Marine Related Employment

This paper presents a modelling framework that facilitates marine policy impact assessment at a scale that is below the national level. The spatial microsimulation approach provides a regional level of analysis not generally possible when dealing with ocean economy statistics that are often even difficult to compile at a national level and offers a powerful modelling tool for maritime spatial planning. The spatial microsimulation model is used to profile the spatial distribution of marine related employment in Ireland. It is then used to carry out a micro-level regional assessment of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions on the distribution of employment in the Irish ocean economy. The results demonstrate that many of those made unemployed in the ocean economy during the first lock down were outside the main urban centers, particularly in the case of marine tourism and leisure and the marine natural resource based industries. The paper argues that the use of such spatial microsimulation approaches can facilitate a more evidence based policy response to an economic shock, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, in terms of industry and regional specific supports and can also inform more effective marine spatial planning

Effect of Temperature and Wind on Metabolism of Northern Bobwhite in Winter

Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) are widely distributed across more than half of the United States, and extending into Canada and Mexico. Within this distribution they tolerate a wide range of climatic conditions and thermal stress. Annual variation in weather can produce dramatic short-term population fluctuations, particularly in the northern portion of the distribution. To better understand effects of thermal stress on energy requirements of bobwhite, we measured roosting metabolic response to cold stress and wind speed using open respirometry in a closed-circuit wind tunnel. Oxygen consumption was measured for 8 winter-acclimated captive bobwhites at each of 8 temperatures (-15°, -10°, -5°, 0°, 5°, 10°, 20°, and 30° C) at free convection and at 3 wind speeds (0, 1, and 2 m/sec) at -15° and 0° C. Over the range of body mass we measured (201.5 ± 1.3 g, n = 64), metabolic rate varied with body mass (P \u3c 0.001) but did not differ between sexes (P = 0.187). Mean standard metabolic rate (V02) was 3.4 ± 0.11 mL O2/minute/bird (0.0171 ± 0.0004 mL O2/ min/g) or 1.14 ± 0.04 W/bird. Below a lower critical temperature of 24.1° C, metabolic rate was linearly related to operative temperature (Te)(V02 = 7.187 - 0.1568[Te]; r2 = 0.86, P \u3c 0.001). Metabolic rate (M–E) was linearly related to wind speed (WS) at -15° C (V02 = 9.741 + 0.4609[WS]; r2 = 0.99, P = 0.001) and 0° C (V02 = 6.713 + 0.4609[WS]; r2 = 0.99, P = 0.001). We discuss implications of these energy expenditures in the context of current research and management

Relative Invertebrate Abundance and Biomass in Conservation Reserve Program Plantings in Northern Missouri

We measured relative invertebrate abundance, biomass, and diversity in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) fields planted to red clover (Trifolium pratense)/timothy (Phleum pratense), timothy, orchard-grass (Dactylis glomerata), tall fescue (Festuca pratensis), warm-season grasses (big bluestem [Andropogon gerardi]/switch grass [Panicum virgatum]), orchard-grass/Korean lespedeza (Kummerowia stipu/,acea), and conventionally-tilled soybeans, to assess brood habitat quality for northern bobwhite (Colinus virginkinus). We sampled invertebrate populations by vacuuming along 3 15-m transects (4.56 m2/sample) within 4 fields of each planting type, at 2-week intervals from 1 July to 15 August 1990 and 1991. Invertebrate abundance and biomass were lowest in early August (P \u3c 0.05). The CRP fields planted to a red clover/timothy mixture, and dominated by red clover, had the highest levels of invertebrate abundance and biomass (P \u3c 0.05). Conventionally-tilled soybeans had lower invertebrate abundance and biomass than all CRP covertypes (P\u3c 0.05). Mean invertebrate abundance and biomass in CRP fields were 4 times that of soybean fields. In northern Missouri, CRP fields could provide quality brood habitat if structural characteristics are also consistent with brood foraging needs. Incorporation of a legume in CRP plantings may produce higher invertebrate densities and improve the value of these fields as brood habitat

Foraging Behavior of Northern Bobwhites in Relation to Resource Availability

Distribution of food resources may influence northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) foraging decisions and demographic rates. We tested whether covey movements were sensitive to food availability by spreading sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) every 15 days at 3 rates; high rate (174 L/ha/yr), low rate (44 L/ha/yr), and no feed on 3 sections (~240 ha each) of Tall Timbers Research Station, 2009–2010. We measured sorghum availability spread along a 17 km feeding trail every 5 days. We determined seasonal (1 Nov - 15 Mar) home ranges of radio-tagged coveys (n = 89) and daily movement rates and home ranges of a subset of coveys located every 30 mins, sunrise to sunset (1 Feb - 15 Mar). Diet was determined from harvested bobwhites. Mean sorghum availability (seeds/0.5m2) on the feed trail declined from 50 seeds at day 1 to 12 seeds at day 15, and 11 seeds at day 1 to 0 seeds at day 10, for high and low rates, respectively. Seasonal home ranges did not differ among treatments; however, daily home ranges were smaller for coveys on the high rate areas, as was dispersion of locations within home ranges. Distances to the feed trail from covey and random locations were similar. There was no difference in distance traveled (25.20 m; SE = 0.65) between consecutive covey locations among treatments. Proportion of sorghum in the diet declined precipitously when \u3c15 seeds/0.5m2. We estimated an empirical giving up density of 10–14 seeds/0.5m2, ~1.6 kcals/0.5m2. Food availability, even at high levels, marginally affected covey space use and movement rates during late winter. Other factors affecting bobwhites, such as predator avoidance, or thermal regulation, may have a more significant effect on bobwhite covey daily movements and space use

Josephson parametric amplifier with Chebyshev gain profile and high saturation

We demonstrate a Josephson parametric amplifier design with a band-pass impedance matching network based on a third-order Chebyshev prototype. We measured eight amplifiers operating at 4.6 GHz that exhibit gains of 20 dB with less than 1 dB gain ripple and up to 500 MHz bandwidth. The amplifiers further achieve high output saturation powers around -73 dBm based on the use of rf-SQUID arrays as their nonlinear element. We characterize the system readout efficiency and its signal-to-noise ratio near saturation using a Sycamore processor, finding the data consistent with near quantum limited noise performance of the amplifiers. In addition, we measure the amplifiers' intermodulation distortion in two-tone experiments as a function of input power and inter-tone detuning, and observe excess distortion at small detuning with a pronounced dip as a function of signal power, which we interpret in terms of power-dependent dielectric losses.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figure

Disruption of the TCA cycle reveals an ATF4-dependent integration of redox and amino acid metabolism.

The Tricarboxylic Acid (TCA) Cycle is arguably the most critical metabolic cycle in physiology and exists as an essential interface coordinating cellular metabolism, bioenergetics, and redox homeostasis. Despite decades of research, a comprehensive investigation into the consequences of TCA cycle dysfunction remains elusive. Here, we targeted two TCA cycle enzymes, fumarate hydratase (FH) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), and combined metabolomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics analyses to fully appraise the consequences of TCA cycle inhibition (TCAi) in murine kidney epithelial cells. Our comparative approach shows that TCAi elicits a convergent rewiring of redox and amino acid metabolism dependent on the activation of ATF4 and the integrated stress response (ISR). Furthermore, we also uncover a divergent metabolic response, whereby acute FHi, but not SDHi, can maintain asparagine levels via reductive carboxylation and maintenance of cytosolic aspartate synthesis. Our work highlights an important interplay between the TCA cycle, redox biology, and amino acid homeostasis

Disruption of the TCA cycle reveals an ATF4-dependent integration of redox and amino acid metabolism.

The Tricarboxylic Acid (TCA) Cycle is arguably the most critical metabolic cycle in physiology and exists as an essential interface coordinating cellular metabolism, bioenergetics, and redox homeostasis. Despite decades of research, a comprehensive investigation into the consequences of TCA cycle dysfunction remains elusive. Here, we targeted two TCA cycle enzymes, fumarate hydratase (FH) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), and combined metabolomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics analyses to fully appraise the consequences of TCA cycle inhibition (TCAi) in murine kidney epithelial cells. Our comparative approach shows that TCAi elicits a convergent rewiring of redox and amino acid metabolism dependent on the activation of ATF4 and the integrated stress response (ISR). Furthermore, we also uncover a divergent metabolic response, whereby acute FHi, but not SDHi, can maintain asparagine levels via reductive carboxylation and maintenance of cytosolic aspartate synthesis. Our work highlights an important interplay between the TCA cycle, redox biology, and amino acid homeostasis